

N°57 • January 2025
EDITORIAL
SPOILT FOR CHOICE
She mentions the Bridge Week in St. Moritz, the WBT Masters in Reykjavik followed by the Reykjavik Bridge Festival, the European Winter Transnational Championships in Prague, the ACBL Spring NABC in Memphis, the German Bridge Team Trophy in Langenhagen, the European Transnational Championships in Poznan, the ACBL Summer NABC in Philadelphia, Riga Invites to Riga (guess where!), the World Transnational Open Teams in Herning, the WBT Masters in Copenhagen, the Madeira International Bridge Open and the ACBL Fall NABC in San Francisco.

by Mark Horton
The list of possibilities is endless. Over the next few months, you can enjoy (amongst others) the Spring Fours in Bristol, the Contra Cup in Bucharest, the Festivals at Juan-les-Pins, Biarritz and Deauville, the Swedish Bridge Festival (and the Chairman’s Cup).
If you play regularly in a bridge club, taking part in one of these events is the next step. No matter where you live, there is sure to be something available most of the year. You can discover where they are taking place by contacting your national bridge authority or by consulting a web site (www.bridgescanner.com is one of the best).
Imagine yourself playing some other sport and having the opportunity to play against one of its superstars. That’s all but impossible! However, in bridge you may get the opportunity to play against National, European and World Champions on numerous occasions.
If you are still thinking about making a New Year’s Resolution, why not resolve to take a busman’s holiday and play in a Festival!
Number 57 – Monthly – January 2025 – Director of publication Olivier Comte – Publisher Éditions de Presse Spécialisée Le Bridgeur – 33 avenue Emile Zola, 92100 Boulogne Billancourt – France – Executive Director Karine Meyer-Naudan – Editorial Committee Michel Bessis – Muriel Clément – Philippe Cronier – Mark Horton – Vincent Labbé – Norbert Lébely – Karine Meyer-Naudan – Assistant Editor-in Chief Vincent Labbé – Editorial Secretary Muriel Clément – Adverts Bridgerama+ Muriel Clément 01 42 96 25 50 – Subscriptions 01 42 96 25 50 – Art Director Isabelle Le Squer-Fontaine/Maya – mayatom@me.com – Translation Monika Kummel – Legal Deposit january 2025, N°7.680 – Joint Committee – 1118 K 85690 – ISSN 0184-8127.
CONTENTS

1NT WITH A 5-CARD MAJOR?
Should I open 1NT with a 5-card Major? This is the #1 question. If bridge teachers had a dollar for every time this question is asked, they’d be wealthy people. Let me start by saying that there is no “right” answer…

PLAY BETTER BRIDGE
PLAY BETTER BRIDGE ALL ABOUTDECLARER PLAY – PART 1 Knut & Lars Blakset If you want to become a complete player, you absolutely must acquire the techniques you need to know to master the complexities of card play. More than…

GETTING THROUGH A BLOCKED DOOR
PAIRS TOURNAMENT.DEALER NORTH, NONE VUL. You are sitting South, holding this beautiful hand: ♠ AKQ43♥ 2♦ 875♣ A764 The auction is straightforward. Your partner opens 1♥. You respond 1♠ and, after a raise to 2♠, you leap to game at 4♠: W N…

One hand, eight questions
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: ♠ 75♥ K3♦ 752♣ KQ10874 1 Your partner opens 1♦. What do you say? View solution…

Developments after a new suit 2 over 1 in uncontested auctions
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: Developments after a…

Report – Final of the Soloway Knockout
Final of the Soloway Knockout (teams event and part of the fall NABC). Here you are, in the seat of Stéphane Messika, an ingenious French player, in the final of the Soloway, a prestigious American competition. W N E S VOLCKER…

DEFENDING A 4-3 FIT
Multiple world champion Sally Brock examines classic problems from match pointed events. Sally: North: It was rather boring at our table. I opened a strong No-Trump, my partner bid Stayman and West overcalled 2♠. It then went: Pass-Pass and partner bid…

PRETTY FOHRER
Admire the declarer-play of Israel’s David Fohrer on this 3 No-Trump from a major championship. W N E S 1♣ 2♥(*) Pass Pass 2NT Pass 3NT (*) Weak overcall. West realized the futility of leading a Heart – with no…

Training Course in Juan-les-Pins
This Sunday, we are driving home from the festival in Juan-les-Pins. One of my new Girls, Leila, took part in a training course in preparation for the European Championships this summer. She made progress quite quickly. It must be said…

DEALING WITH BAD TRUMP BREAKS [PART 2]
After studying the optimal way of handling suit combinations in the previous month, this time we will be looking at safety plays. Their aim? Securing a specific number of tricks in a suit, even if it means losing a potential…

PASSING PARTNER’S OPENING?
In this new column, our two authors join forces to present a new tactical principle every month, rarely highlighted in classic texts. What is the purpose of this “golden rule”?To deprive player number 4 of an easy balancing call that…

Promising opening lead ?
THE SUIT OF THE OPENING LEAD SEEMS PROMISING FOR YOUR SIDE. BUT DOES THAT MEAN WE SHOULD BLINDLY CONTINUE IN THIS DIRECTION? IT IS UP TO YOU… W N E S 1♦ Pass 1♠ 1NT 2♠ 3NT Your partner leads…

GRAND DESIGNS – BIDDING GRAND SLAMS
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…

ABTA Provides the Answers – January 2025
Two more questions from the World Bridge Games in Buenos Aires. 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…

1NT WITH A 5-CARD MAJOR?
Should I open 1NT with a 5-card Major? This is the #1 question. If bridge teachers had a dollar for every time this question is asked, they’d be wealthy people. Let me start by saying that there is no “right” answer…

PLAY BETTER BRIDGE
PLAY BETTER BRIDGE ALL ABOUTDECLARER PLAY – PART 1 Knut & Lars Blakset If you want to become a complete player, you absolutely must acquire the techniques you need to know to master the complexities of card play. More than…

GETTING THROUGH A BLOCKED DOOR
PAIRS TOURNAMENT.DEALER NORTH, NONE VUL. You are sitting South, holding this beautiful hand: ♠ AKQ43♥ 2♦ 875♣ A764 The auction is straightforward. Your partner opens 1♥. You respond 1♠ and, after a raise to 2♠, you leap to game at 4♠: W N…

One hand, eight questions
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: ♠ 75♥ K3♦ 752♣ KQ10874 1 Your partner opens 1♦. What do you say? View solution…

Developments after a new suit 2 over 1 in uncontested auctions
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: Developments after a…

Report – Final of the Soloway Knockout
Final of the Soloway Knockout (teams event and part of the fall NABC). Here you are, in the seat of Stéphane Messika, an ingenious French player, in the final of the Soloway, a prestigious American competition. W N E S VOLCKER…

DEFENDING A 4-3 FIT
Multiple world champion Sally Brock examines classic problems from match pointed events. Sally: North: It was rather boring at our table. I opened a strong No-Trump, my partner bid Stayman and West overcalled 2♠. It then went: Pass-Pass and partner bid…

PRETTY FOHRER
Admire the declarer-play of Israel’s David Fohrer on this 3 No-Trump from a major championship. W N E S 1♣ 2♥(*) Pass Pass 2NT Pass 3NT (*) Weak overcall. West realized the futility of leading a Heart – with no…

Training Course in Juan-les-Pins
This Sunday, we are driving home from the festival in Juan-les-Pins. One of my new Girls, Leila, took part in a training course in preparation for the European Championships this summer. She made progress quite quickly. It must be said…

DEALING WITH BAD TRUMP BREAKS [PART 2]
After studying the optimal way of handling suit combinations in the previous month, this time we will be looking at safety plays. Their aim? Securing a specific number of tricks in a suit, even if it means losing a potential…

PASSING PARTNER’S OPENING?
In this new column, our two authors join forces to present a new tactical principle every month, rarely highlighted in classic texts. What is the purpose of this “golden rule”?To deprive player number 4 of an easy balancing call that…

Promising opening lead ?
THE SUIT OF THE OPENING LEAD SEEMS PROMISING FOR YOUR SIDE. BUT DOES THAT MEAN WE SHOULD BLINDLY CONTINUE IN THIS DIRECTION? IT IS UP TO YOU… W N E S 1♦ Pass 1♠ 1NT 2♠ 3NT Your partner leads…

GRAND DESIGNS – BIDDING GRAND SLAMS
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…

ABTA Provides the Answers – January 2025
Two more questions from the World Bridge Games in Buenos Aires. 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…
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