I hope you all had a safe and healthy New Year’s celebration and wish you a great 2016.

We will now resume our regular Salisbury games beginning Tuesday, Jan. 5 and Friday, Jan. 8.

Several times over the past few months I have heard complaints about being harmed by the opponents bidding. This happened at another area game.

When the dummy came down, it was apparent to the defenders that there was a failure to alert or a deliberate choice made not to bid as indicated on opponents’ convention cards. This “misinformation” caused the defenders to alter their bidding keeping them from reaching an attainable bid thus being denied a positive score.

Immediately, before play begins, the defenders should call the director. If the offenders benefitted from their misbehavior the director must determine intent by the offenders and then award or not award an adjusted score at the end of the hand.  He must take into account the experience of the pairs involved. Knowledgeable pairs are punished and non-offenders awarded higher points.

When John and I were rookies at duplicate the director was called because of this problem.  In our case the director’s words were “there’s no penalty for bad bridge!”  We were not penalized but we were embarrassed and vowed to be very careful after that.

Winners at our Tuesday, Dec. 29 Women’s Club game: First, Wade Lowder and Georgia Sorensen; second, Tom Johnson and Nancy Brandt; third, Dick Brisbin and Pat Macon.

Featured is board #3 from the Dec. 29 Women’s Club game

NORTH:

S  K J T

H  9 8 3

D  9 8

C  Q 8 6 3 2

WEST:            EAST:

S  A 9 6 2        S  Q 8 5

H  K Q J 5      H  A 6 2

D  K 6 4          D  A Q 7 3

C  A K              C  J 7 4

SOUTH:

S  7 4 3

H  T 7 4

D  J T 5 2

C  T 9 5

The best N/S score was made by Tom Johnson and Nancy Brandt who defeated 7NT W by 2 tricks while the John McLaughlins bid and made 6NT W.

A club was led at the McLaughlin’s table. Declarer took the first trick and then ran all the Diamonds and Hearts keeping the Club stopper and then attacked the Spades. He led a small spade and let the defenders take the first trick in the North. No matter what defender leads next, the contract is made.

I look forward to seeing you all again in the New Year.