Grandslam #35

THE GRANDSLAM

SRC BRIDGE SECTION NEWSLETTER

Feb/Mar 06 ISSUE #35

1. Message from the Convenor – Shamim Moledina

In this issue, I would like to say a few words about something that starts out as a footnote to bridge but ends up being more important than the game itself – friendship.

When Peter and Anna Arnett were posted to Singapore, their friends outside their business circles were practically zero. They walked into the lobby of SRC one day and asked if there was bridge being played here. Within a month, they were regulars at our Monday (now Tuesday) practice session and when they were finally posted out of Singapore some years later, they left behind so many good friends. When fun-loving Anna passed away last year, many of us felt the shock & the pain.

The friends I have made through bridge have begun to eclipse my earlier friends. As a whole, I found this group to be intelligent as well as great fun to be with. Some have become my very close friends. Without bridge, I would never have met some of these wonderful people and I hope this friendship will last till the end of our lives.

We feel glad when our friends do well in tournaments, even if it is at our expense. This is because we know that they will be the first ones to congratulate us if the situation was reversed. Without the friendship element, I doubt bridge would be so enjoyable.

Friends, so to speak, bridge the gap.

2. PA Xmas Potluck Bridge Pairs – 20th December

The annual friendly Xmas bridge party at People’s Association was a tremendous success thanks to PA Convenor Lau Lee Chin and her dedicated friends. The “entry” fee for the bridge party was a food dish and everybody was overwhelmed by the variety and quality of the dishes. Mutton rendang, fried chicken, ham, spicy potatoes, dumplings were among the numerous savories which was followed by a log cake, apple pie and black forest. The traditional carol singing was led by Isabel at the piano. The bridge tournament that followed was almost an anti-climax as Ron Oh & Zain Moledina (SRC) beat Carlton Parker (SRC) & Chris Wong (SRC) with Shamim Moledina (SRC) & Michael Fernandez third.

3, CSC Holiday Games Special – 26th Dec, 31st Dec & 2nd Jan

18 to 20 pairs turned up during the spate of the 3 holiday games which was organised by the Chinese Swimming Club. The solid response showed that Bridge players know exactly how they want to celebrate the holidays! It was three wonderful sessions of great pot-luck food generously contributed by the players. The dish that got all the rave review was without doubt the super salad made by Peng Huat. Between the sips of wine and the calorie-laden desserts, the games went off without a hitch.

Boxing Day Results : 1st Trevor Li & SK Phang 2nd Tan Peng Huat & Alex Wong 3rd Zain & Shamim Moledina (SRC).

New Years Eve Results : 1st Zain & Shamim Moledina (SRC) 2nd Allan Chua & Lena 3rd Chua Gang & CC Seet

New Year Results : 1st Chua Gang & CC Seet 2nd SL & TW Chong 3rd Tan Peng Huat & Alex Wong 4th Shamin Moledina (SRC) & Rana Gill tied David Chew & Zain Moledina (SRC)

4. SRC Tuesday Bridge Results from Nov 29th to Jan 31st

DATE FIRST SECOND THIRD

Nov 29 Yu/Ping Dorothy/Richard PengHuat/RonOh

Dec 4 Shamim/Teresa Dorothy/Richard Pat/Leong

Dec 13 RonOh/Peng Huat Leong/Pat Joli/Murli

Dec 20 Molly/Richard PengHuat/RonOh Dorothy/RonS

Dec 27 Carl/Shawn BK/Helen Leong/Pat

Jan 3 RonS/RonOh Shamim/Yu Shawn/Zain

Jan 17 Rana/RonOh Michael/Shawn=Ping/Yu

Jan 24 Dorothy/RonS Alan/Peng Huat Shawn/Zain=Chris/Carl

Jan 31 Rana/Shamim Ai Leng/David Alan/Peng Huat

5. Genting Bridge Escapade #7 from Jan 10th to 14th

Due to popular demand, another trip to the highlands of Malaysia was organised. As the private coach was full, several people had to drive or take the public coach.

Apprehensions about the wet weather were soon put to rest as the sun was out with a vengeance after the initial 2 days of rain. As an added bonus, the immigration checkpoints were totally clear both ways! With 3 mahjong sets in tow, the private function room was constantly utilized throughout the days and nights with bridge and mahjong players.

The 3 bridge matches were a friendly informal affair with a different partner each day.

Ron Oh and Yu Chun Yee took the first day’s honours while Dorothy Wong and Ron Savage won on the second day. Ron Oh again took first with his wife, Nancy on the third match.


6. The Great Bridge of China

“I can play bridge. This proves that my mental powers are still alright” – Late China Premier Deng Xiao Ping (after his retirement)

7. Key Date in Bridge

1903: British civil servants in remote India developed the practice of bidding for the privilege of calling the trump suit, thus introducing "auction bridge."

8. Bridge Rules of Thumb

Starting with this issue of Grandslam, we are listing five rules of thumb to improve the game. As always, there are going to be exceptions and the tips given below should not be a substitute for a proper analysis of the particular situation and pure common sense.

i) Aces are meant to take Kings.

ii) The five-level belongs to the opponents.

iii) Always take the setting trick.

iv) When in doubt, don’t lead trump.

v) When leading against a slam, lead the closes thing to a trick that isn't a trick.

9. Play Better Bridge -- Law of Total Tricks

Sooner or later, the improving player will come across the “Law of Total Tricks” (LOTT). Briefly stated, it claims that the sum of the total number of trumps held by N-S and E-W in their respective longest suits is equal to the total number of tricks they can take altogether.

For example, if N-S holds 9 Spades and E-W hold 8 Hearts, then the total available tricks is 17. If E-W can just make a vulnerable 4H game (10 tricks, 620 points) then N-S can make 7 tricks with Spades as trumps. This implies that N-S should make a non-vulnerable sacrifice at 4S (down 3 for –500 points) but not when Vulnerable because down 3 is -800 points.

The amazing part about LOTT is that there is no mention of the HCP or distribution of side suits or whether a finesse would succeed or fail. Neither is there a mention of the distribution/HCP of the trump suit or who the declarer is – just the partnership total.

There are several books explaining LOTT in detail and with many examples to put their point across. All of those books also cover specific cases where the LOTT is violated by 1 or 2 tricks (but see Puzzle – LOTT’s Strife below).

LOTT should be in the arsenal of every duplicate bridge player.

10. Puzzle – LOTT’s Strife (difficult – for experts only)

After placing laurels on the LOTT (see above Play Better Bridge -- Law of Total Tricks) it is only fair that I try my best to compromise it! Can you come up with hands that ruthlessly violate LOTT against best play and defense? You need to come up with a hand that has the most excess of Total Tricks over Total Trumps and another with the most excess of Total Trumps over Total Tricks. (Answer 24 below)

L I g h t e r S I d e O f B r I d g e

11. Killer Instinct

“It's not the skill that drops off with age, it's the drive, the killer instinct ... and when a man isn't primed to kill he makes mistakes.”

12. Yanking Bootstraps

Good Bridge comes from experience, and a lot of that experience comes from bad Bridge.

13. Calling a Spade a Spade

They call the game Bridge because PMS was already taken.

14. A Reason why Bridge is Better

Four times a day is so easy.

15. Hot Turkey

I don't suffer from bridge addiction; I enjoy every minute of it.

16. A Sign that You are a Bridge Addict

As you walk by, you just have to stop and watch others play.

17. Nerds Need Not Apply

“The sum of all technical knowledge cannot make a master Bridge player” -- Ely Culbertson

18. Changing Times

“Years ago there were only two acceptable excuses for not leading the suit your partner had opened; having no cards in the suit, and sudden death.” -- Alfred Sheinwold

19. Improving Partner

“Your play was not much better tonight, Partner, but your excuses certainly were.”

20. How’s That Again?

“When I take a 50-50 chance I expect it to come off 8 or 9 times out of 10.” - Hideous Hog

21. Cutting Down Mistakes

“Now that he's at the six level, he knows no more than he did before but there's less bidding space for making errors."

22. Daffy-nit-shuns -- Foreplay

Foreplay is the bidding sequence in Bridge (what were you thinking!)

23. Shock Therapee

There are 4 ways to learn bridge.

Those who learn by listening.

Those who learn by reading.

Those who learn by observation.

The rest have to pee on the electric fence and find out for themselves.

24. Answer to LOTT’s Strife (copyright Technology Review)

Maximum violation is 12 more tricks than trumps!

S : VOID

H : A K Q J 10 9 8

D : A K Q J 10 9

C : VOID

S : A K Q J 10 9 8 S : VOID

H : VOID H : 7 6 5 4 3 2

D : VOID D : 8 7 6 5 4 3 2

C : A K Q J 10 9 C : VOID

S : 7 6 5 4 3 2

H : VOID

D : VOID

C : 8 7 6 5 4 3 2

N-S have 7 hearts but can take all 13 tricks. Same with E-W in spades. The total number of tricks is therefore 26 with only 14 trumps – a LOTT violation of 12.


Conversely, the maximum deficit is 14!

S : 4 3 2

H : A K Q J 10

D : 7

C : 6 5 4 3

S : A K Q J 10 S : VOID

H : 4 3 2 H : 9 8 7 6 5

D : 6 5 4 3 D : 2

C : 7 C : A K Q J 10 9 8

S : 9 8 7 6 5

H : VOID

D : A K Q J 10 9 8

C : 2

With S as declarer in Spades, N-S can take only 1 trick if W draws trumps and then lets his partner in to run Clubs. Same when W declares in Hearts. The total number of tricks is just 2 with 16 trumps – a LOTT violation of 14!

Zain Moledina,

Editor

zaris@pacific.net.sg

Febuary 1, 2006