N°60 • APRIL 2025
EDITORIAL
LEST WE FORGET
While serving as Vice-President of the Swedish Bridge Federation between 2005-2016, he was elected to the EBL Executive Committee in 2010. He was then elected EBL Honorary Secretary and became a member of the Presidential Council. His other roles were as chairman of the Championships, IT, NBO Liaison and Master Points Committees and a member of the Finance, Material Procurement, Reviewer, Rules & Regulations, Special Investigations and Statutes Committees. Two years later he was elected EBL President and became a member of the WBF Executive Council. In 2022 he was unanimously elected as President of the World Bridge Federation, and he assumed office on 1 January 2023.
by Mark Horton
In addition to pursuing his well-known aims of making the administration more democratic, transparent and efficient, he was determined to prevent cheating and improve the quality and organisation of tournaments.
He introduced the World Tour, adopting a ranking system based on cumulative performances at championships, festivals and tournaments, and the Jan Kamras trophy, presented to the winners, will be a permanent reminder of this outstanding figure.
It would be easy to overlook that Jan was not too shabby as a player, his victories including the Swedish Team Championship in 2010 and the Cavendish Teams in 2013.
The next time you attend a major championship, take a good look around – you will see his monument at every turn.
For myself, I was privileged to count him as a friend.
Farewell Mr. President.
Number 60 – Monthly – April 2025 – Director of publication Olivier Comte – Publisher Éditions de Presse Spécialisée Le Bridgeur – 33 avenue EmileZola,92100BoulogneBillancourt -France–ExecutiveDirectorKarineMeyer-Naudan–EditorialCommitteeMichelBessis-MurielClément-Philippe Cronier – Mark Horton – Vincent Labbé – Norbert Lébely – Karine Meyer-Naudan – Assistant Editor-in Chief Vincent Labbé – Editorial Secretary Muriel Clément–AdvertsBridgerama+MurielClément0142962550 –Subscriptions0142962550–ArtDirectorIsabelleLeSquer-Fontaine/Maya- mayatom@me.com – Translation Monika Kummel – Legal Deposit april 2025, N°7.680 – Joint Committee – 1118 K 85690 – ISSN 0184-8127.
CONTENTS
60 - APRIL 2025
XYZ AND FOURTH SUIT FORCING
This month we are looking at two conventions that are designed to provide important information during the early bidding exchanges, the relatively new XYZ and the well- established concept of fourth suit forcing. XYZ XYZ is a convention whereby the…
60 - APRIL 2025
GUARANTEE YOUR CONTRACT
GUARANTEE YOUR CONTRACT Jean-Paul Meyer If there is one thing that satisfies a bridge player, it is making their contract. If there is one that annoys them, it is going down in a contract that they could have made. This…
60 - APRIL 2025
IT’S ALL HANGING BY A THREAD
TEAMS.DEALER NORTH, N/S VUL. Green against red, sitting East behind a 1♦ opening, you overcall 1♥ indicating a lead to partner with the following hand: ♠ 653♥ KQ987♦ K3♣ 942 Unimpressed, South jumps freely to 2NT and North raises to game: W N E S 1♦…
60 - APRIL 2025
One hand, seven questions – April 2025
This month, you’ll have a single hand and will have to answer a series of questions on a variety of themes, ending with a dummy play. You hold as South: ♠ KQ9♥ Q7632 ♦ 93♣ A92 1 Do you open that hand? View solution Pass:…
60 - APRIL 2025
How to defend against pre-emptive bids.
North-South have reached a very poor contract. As so often, each of the two players considers that his partner is responsible for the accident. And you, what do you think? This month we will be looking at:How to defend against…
60 - APRIL 2025
Online Bridge Championship, semifinal
Online Bridge Championship, semifinal. Imagine yourself in the place of Thomas Gotard, a German player in his forties who is used to international championships. You compete in an online bridge championship and reach the semifinals. You now have to concentrate…
60 - APRIL 2025
WELL-BID GRAND SLAM
Multiple world champion Sally Brock examines classic problems from match pointed events. Sally: I liked our auction on Board 8. Did you bid the grand slam, or did they bid it against you?: West: They didn’t bid a grand slam…
60 - APRIL 2025
MEMORIES OF FAILURE
It was far from easy to reach slam on this deal after East had opened 1NT and West had made a free bid. North-South Vulnerable. W N E S 1NT 2♥(1) 2♠(2) 3NT Pass 5♦ Pass 6♥(3) (1) Heavy.(2) Light.(3)…
60 - APRIL 2025
COMPETE AGAINST ARGINE
This Month… THIS MONTH YOU WILL COMPETE AGAINST ARGINE, FUNBRIDGE’S GAME ENGINE. TAKE ITS PLACE IN SOUTH WITH THE FOLLOWING HAND (DEALER EAST, NONE VUL.): ♠ KQ52 ♥ AK10 ♦ KJ7 ♣ A102 East opens 1♣. What is your call?You are too strong to overcall 1NT (5 points).…
60 - APRIL 2025
Misbid this Hand with Me – April 2025
Based on his bestselling trilogy of books, Misplay These Hands with Me, Misdefend These Hands with Me and Misbid These Hands with Me, Mark Horton shows you how to avoid misplaying, misdefending and misbidding hands. A Switch in Time During…
60 - APRIL 2025
WHAT DO YOU LEAD AS WEST? – April 2025
1. ♠ J102 ♥ 543 ♦ Q752 ♣ J98 W N E S 1♦ 1NT Pass 2♣ Pass 2♥ Pass 3NT Discover the right lead ♦5: Lead the 5 of Diamonds, standard count in partner’s suit. My advice: when partner’s opening was 1♦, 1♥ or 1♠, lead count.…
60 - APRIL 2025
ON THE LEAD AGAINST 6 NO-TRUMP
In this new column, our two authors join forces to present a new tactical principle every month, rarely highlighted in classic texts. In our article Serve and Volley or not? from February 2025, we discussed the policy of neutrality that should be…
60 - APRIL 2025
HELP Partner MAKE THE RIGHT DECISIONS
KEEP IN MIND THAT YOUR PARTNER DOES NOT KNOW YOUR HAND. IT IS IMPORTANT TO GO EASY ON HIM BY PLAYING CARDS THAT ARE EASY TO READ TO HELP HIM MAKE THE RIGHT DECISIONS. W N E S 1♣ 1♥…
60 - APRIL 2025
XYZ AND FOURTH SUIT FORCING
In this traditional section of BRIDGERAMA+,we invite you to bid with the partner of your choice. Ready to bid ? West’s hands East’s hands The expert’s eye You have access to this section because your partner has shared this article with…
60 - APRIL 2025
ABTA Provides the Answers – april 2025
Two questions from the Vanderbilt Trophy in Memphis. Grand Life Master Patty Tucker was inducted into the ACBL’s Hall of Fame in 2019. For the last several decades she has devoted more time to teaching and developing material for students,…
60 - APRIL 2025
XYZ AND FOURTH SUIT FORCING
This month we are looking at two conventions that are designed to provide important information during the early bidding exchanges, the relatively new XYZ and the well- established concept of fourth suit forcing. XYZ XYZ is a convention whereby the…
60 - APRIL 2025
GUARANTEE YOUR CONTRACT
GUARANTEE YOUR CONTRACT Jean-Paul Meyer If there is one thing that satisfies a bridge player, it is making their contract. If there is one that annoys them, it is going down in a contract that they could have made. This…
60 - APRIL 2025
IT’S ALL HANGING BY A THREAD
TEAMS.DEALER NORTH, N/S VUL. Green against red, sitting East behind a 1♦ opening, you overcall 1♥ indicating a lead to partner with the following hand: ♠ 653♥ KQ987♦ K3♣ 942 Unimpressed, South jumps freely to 2NT and North raises to game: W N E S 1♦…
60 - APRIL 2025
One hand, seven questions – April 2025
This month, you’ll have a single hand and will have to answer a series of questions on a variety of themes, ending with a dummy play. You hold as South: ♠ KQ9♥ Q7632 ♦ 93♣ A92 1 Do you open that hand? View solution Pass:…
60 - APRIL 2025
How to defend against pre-emptive bids.
North-South have reached a very poor contract. As so often, each of the two players considers that his partner is responsible for the accident. And you, what do you think? This month we will be looking at:How to defend against…
60 - APRIL 2025
Online Bridge Championship, semifinal
Online Bridge Championship, semifinal. Imagine yourself in the place of Thomas Gotard, a German player in his forties who is used to international championships. You compete in an online bridge championship and reach the semifinals. You now have to concentrate…
60 - APRIL 2025
WELL-BID GRAND SLAM
Multiple world champion Sally Brock examines classic problems from match pointed events. Sally: I liked our auction on Board 8. Did you bid the grand slam, or did they bid it against you?: West: They didn’t bid a grand slam…
60 - APRIL 2025
MEMORIES OF FAILURE
It was far from easy to reach slam on this deal after East had opened 1NT and West had made a free bid. North-South Vulnerable. W N E S 1NT 2♥(1) 2♠(2) 3NT Pass 5♦ Pass 6♥(3) (1) Heavy.(2) Light.(3)…
60 - APRIL 2025
COMPETE AGAINST ARGINE
This Month… THIS MONTH YOU WILL COMPETE AGAINST ARGINE, FUNBRIDGE’S GAME ENGINE. TAKE ITS PLACE IN SOUTH WITH THE FOLLOWING HAND (DEALER EAST, NONE VUL.): ♠ KQ52 ♥ AK10 ♦ KJ7 ♣ A102 East opens 1♣. What is your call?You are too strong to overcall 1NT (5 points).…
60 - APRIL 2025
Misbid this Hand with Me – April 2025
Based on his bestselling trilogy of books, Misplay These Hands with Me, Misdefend These Hands with Me and Misbid These Hands with Me, Mark Horton shows you how to avoid misplaying, misdefending and misbidding hands. A Switch in Time During…
60 - APRIL 2025
WHAT DO YOU LEAD AS WEST? – April 2025
1. ♠ J102 ♥ 543 ♦ Q752 ♣ J98 W N E S 1♦ 1NT Pass 2♣ Pass 2♥ Pass 3NT Discover the right lead ♦5: Lead the 5 of Diamonds, standard count in partner’s suit. My advice: when partner’s opening was 1♦, 1♥ or 1♠, lead count.…
60 - APRIL 2025
ON THE LEAD AGAINST 6 NO-TRUMP
In this new column, our two authors join forces to present a new tactical principle every month, rarely highlighted in classic texts. In our article Serve and Volley or not? from February 2025, we discussed the policy of neutrality that should be…
60 - APRIL 2025
HELP Partner MAKE THE RIGHT DECISIONS
KEEP IN MIND THAT YOUR PARTNER DOES NOT KNOW YOUR HAND. IT IS IMPORTANT TO GO EASY ON HIM BY PLAYING CARDS THAT ARE EASY TO READ TO HELP HIM MAKE THE RIGHT DECISIONS. W N E S 1♣ 1♥…
60 - APRIL 2025
XYZ AND FOURTH SUIT FORCING
In this traditional section of BRIDGERAMA+,we invite you to bid with the partner of your choice. Ready to bid ? West’s hands East’s hands The expert’s eye You have access to this section because your partner has shared this article with…
60 - APRIL 2025
ABTA Provides the Answers – april 2025
Two questions from the Vanderbilt Trophy in Memphis. Grand Life Master Patty Tucker was inducted into the ACBL’s Hall of Fame in 2019. For the last several decades she has devoted more time to teaching and developing material for students,…
Flip through THIS ISSUE
This space is reserved for subscribers
You can only access this feature if you are a BRIDGERAMA+ subscriber.