| Dealer: North Vul: None Lead:  Q | NORTH J 9 7 4 A K 9 3 K 10 5 8 7 | |
| WEST K 6 J 10 8 7 J 3 A 9 5 4 | EAST Q 10 3 - A 9 8 6 4 J 10 6 3 2 | |
| SOUTH A 8 5 2 Q 6 5 3 2 7 2 K Q |
In this section I would be putting together all the information regarding bridge facilites in the various cities in India.The information may be sketchy at present but would be made comprehensive in future.
Lucknow Allahabad Varanasi Meerut Dehradun Delhi ChandigarhA convention card editor fills, edits and prints convention cards on computer. Lee Edwards of Lawrenceville, Georgia, USA has designed this very convenient convention card editor for various convention cards. The convention cards which can be filled by this editor are ACBL, SAYC, WBF, WBF(England), EBU, BBL, French, Dutch, Belgian, Sweedish, Italian, Austrian, Ireland, Israeli, Indian & Australian. You can download this software which is freeware from the link mentioned above. Those of you who want to send your comments to Lee Edwards can do so at ledwards@bellsouth.net
For Indian bridge players,lovers & enthusiasts the good news is that the convention card designed by Bridge Federation of India (BFI) appears on this convention card editor. So for those of you who have computers the convention card filling in India is a lot more easier job now.
Lee has been constantly updating the software. The latest version he informs is 6.0.1 with enhanced printing features.The software now supports 21 formats and the convention cards of Germany and South Africa are in offing.
In this section I would cover tournaments happening in India and more so the tournaments happening in Northern part of India and in the state of Uttar Pradesh.
Winter Nationals started in Delhi on 7th November.There were widespread protests against the organizers on first playing day. Participants complained of lack of food & water and were unhappy with the lodging arrangements. The play was heldup for about three hours.Though the organizers have pooled in Four Square Sports Gear as sponsors for the event the organization was decidedly poor.
Lohia bridge championship would be held at Kanpur in March.
In this section I would cover one good deal which appeared in the Weekly Bridge Tournaments at Lucknow or in a recent tournament with explanations.
We continue our discussion on whether to double with void this week also.
| Dealer: North Vul: None Lead: Q | NORTH J 9 7 4 A K 9 3 K 10 5 8 7 | |
| WEST K 6 J 10 8 7 J 3 A 9 5 4 | EAST Q 10 3 - A 9 8 6 4 J 10 6 3 2 | |
| SOUTH A 8 5 2 Q 6 5 3 2 7 2 K Q |
| North | East | South | West |
| Pass | Pass | 1 | Pass |
| 4 | Pass | Pass | X |
| Pass | Pass | Pass | |
Previous Week's deal gave a new poser to those who think of not doubling with a void or leaving a double with a void.
Why so ? Because no-one usually bothers about low level take out doubles with a void. Larry Cohen also talks in length about not defending with voids at high levels.Can we think on similar lines on a one level take out double ? Why not ! And the correct question to ask yourself is : Is this set dealt too strong not to double even with void ?
This week's deal shows why you shouldn't leave a high level penalty double with a void.
North passes with 11 HCP which many would open but when South bids 1 Heart after a pass from East North raises the auction to 4 Hearts. West doubles for penalty and East passes the penalty double holding a void in opponent's suit.
Larry Cohen, the total trick Guru, would not let you play this contract in 4 Hearts Double.He would make East bid 4 NT and EW would play the contract in 5 Clubs.
Now hold your breath, this 5 Clubs makes.In most tables where 5 Club is played this way NS would tend to double this contract.
So you collect a cool 550 if you follow Larry Cohen's advice where as 4 Heart double is only two out giving you only 300.
Another point is that if 4 Hearts double is making then 5 in minor suit is a good sacrifice.
But you would say that in normal course of bidding how would you reach 5 in minor suit ?
Well its simple though some would say that East is aggressive. If EW are playing 2 suiter minor openings then East should open 2 NT/2 D (usually played) or whatever is partnership understanding and West would never play below game. If North opens 1 Diamond then unusual 2 NT would do the job.