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| In Varia we publish articles and puzzles that do not fit in any other section. This page always shows the most recent articles. To find the level of puzzles that suits you best: choose a number of stars in the bar above. |
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The basis of the bidding (9)* |
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This bidding section is meant for beginners and those players who like to keep it simple. Test your knowledge. | N/All | | | | South 1 | South 2 | | | ♠ | Q 10 7 6 | ♠ | Q 10 8 5 | | | | ♥ | J 4 | ♥ | Q 7 | | | | ♦ | 9 2 | ♦ | Q 10 6 | |
| | ♣ | K J 8 5 4 | ♣ | K Q 9 7 | | |
| West | North | East | South |
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| 1♥ | pass | 1♠ | | pass | 2♦ | pass | ? |
What should South 1 bid? And South 2? |
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Solution
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The basis of the bidding (8)* |
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This bidding section is meant for beginners and those players who like to keep it simple. Test your knowledge. | W/All | | | | South 1 | South 2 | | | ♠ | Q J 8 4 2 | ♠ | A 10 8 2 | | | | ♥ | Q 8 4 | ♥ | K Q 10 | | | | ♦ | K 2 | ♦ | Q 10 9 7 | |
| | ♣ | 7 6 4 | ♣ | A 4 | | |
| West | North | East | South |
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| 1♣ | double | pass | ? |
What should South 1 and South 2 bid? |
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Solution
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Back-to-Back consists of two puzzles (A and B) on the same theme. Yesterday's puzzle 5A and today's puzzle 5B are about: Getting rid of a loser in the side suit | S/— | ♠ | 6 5 4 | | | | ♥ | A 6 3 | | ♦ | A 7 6 | | ♣ | 8 6 5 4 | | | |  | | | | | | | | | | ♠ | A K 3 2 | | | ♥ | K Q J 10 9 | | ♦ | 4 3 | | ♣ | K Q |
| West | North | East | South |
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| — | — | — | 1♥ | | pass | 1NT | pass | 2♠ | | pass | 4♥ | pass | pass | | pass | | | |
West leads the ♦K. How should South play? |
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Solution
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Back-to-Back consists of two puzzles (A and B) on the same theme. Here is puzzle 5A, followed tomorrow by 5B. Getting rid of a loser in the side suit S/—
| ♠ | 8 3 | | | | ♥ | 7 6 | | ♦ | K 5 3 2 | | ♣ | Q J 6 5 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ♠ | A K Q J 9 | | | ♥ | A K Q 3 2 | | ♦ | 4 | | ♣ | 8 3 |
| West | North | East | South |
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| — | — | — | 1♠ | | pass | 1NT | pass | 3♥ | | pass | 3♠ | pass | 4♥1 | | pass | 4♠ | pass
| pass
| | pass | | | |
1 It would be premature to assume that North now has more spades than hearts, or even equal length in the two suits! After all, North may have 2-3 in spades and hearts. With that holding he will give preference to spades (since South can have 5-4: in that case a spade contract in a 5-2 fit is superior to a heart contract in a 4-3 fit!). South's 4♥ bid now informs North that South has five hearts (and at least five spades). If North had given preference for spades with 2-3 in spades and hearts, he would now have passed 4♥
West leads the ♦Q. Declarer ducks in dummy and West continues with the ♦J. Again declarer ducks in dummy, East completing a 'come-on' signal. How should South play? |
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Solution
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| W/All | | | ♠ | 7 6 | | | ♥ | K J 9 8 | | | ♦ | A 10 6 5 | | | ♣ | K 9 6 | |
West opens met 1♣, 1♦, 1♥, 1♠ or 1NT (15-17) respectively.
Each and every time your partner doubles and East passes.
What is your bid as South? |
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Solution
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Bols Tip (7) Per Olov Sundelin |
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Per Olov Sundelin is one of the Swedish bridge players who have brought their country to the front rank, reviving the days when Kock-Werner, Lilliehöök-Anulf and, later, Wohlin, were the best in Europe.
Sundelin has represented his country consistently since 1963, captaining the team in 1972 and 1973. Having knocked on the door several times, Sweden won the 1977 European Championship in Denmark by a clear margin. The team was disappointed by its performance in the World Teams Championship (contesting the Bermuda Bowl) later, where it finished third to the U.S.A. and Italy. But that year was the start of a long (it spans almost half a century so far) and distinguished career (mostly in team events though: apparently Sundelin is more inclined to IMP than MP play). His most notable results are:
- European Teams Championships: gold twice (1977, 1987), silver twice (1991, 2004) and bronze once (1989).
- World Teams Championship (contesting the Bermuda Bowl): three times bronze (1977, 1987, 1991), only narrowly missing a fourth time as late as 2005.
Furthermore he was in Swedish teams who took bronze in the 1988 Olympiad and silver in the Philip Morris European Cup 1988 and the European Champions' Cup 2005.
On top of that he has been or still is active as a Daily Bulletin editor and journalist, VuGraph commentator, Appeals Committee Member and member of the WBF (World Bridge Federation) Systems Committee.
A system analyst by profession, Per Olov is a great party man and speaks English so well that he makes clever puns in the language! The deals he describes below are not inventions – they represent his own experiences in the 1976 Monte Carlo Olympiad, where Sweden achieved another good result: 5th.
His tip, which begins on similar lines to that of Charles Goren (to read that, click: Bridge Tip Charles Goren), is entitled: 'Be bold when you are defending.' Sundelin's Bridge Tip: If you can’t see yourself beating the contract by winning the trick, DUCK IT – even at the cost of a trick. |
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Read on
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