Course Schedule

Recent Entries

Archived

SimonStocken

Contact

Friday, October 10, 2008 

Autumn Teaching Schedule

Click Here for Autumn Teaching Program

12:46 PM | Permalink |

Friday, April 11, 2008 

Double- Overview

---

CONTENTS:

TAKE-OUT DOUBLE

---

2. TAKE-OUT DOUBLE

Back to top: DOUBLE: OVERVIEW

7:30 PM | Permalink |

Thursday, April 10, 2008 

Stayman - Overview

---

TO SEE THIS IN SMALLER PRINT CLICK HERE
TO SEE THIS IN SMALLER PRINT CLICK HERE


STAYMAN - CONTENTS:

OVERVIEW
1. History
2. Requirements
3. Hand Types

---

REGULAR STAYMAN:
1. Point Requirements
2. Responses
3. Examples

---

WEAK STAYMAN (More Advanced):
1. "Weak-take-out" in ♣s
2. Five-four in both majors, 0-10 points
3. Esoteric Stayman - WARNING

---

ADVANCED STAYMAN:
1. Stayman 3♣ to 2NT
2. Stayman cancelled after Double
3. Conventional Redouble option - MAJOR WARNING
4. Stayman after intervention - WARNING
5. Intervention after Stayman
6. Extended Stayman - WARNING
7. Stayman with Transfers - WARNING
8. Doubling Stayman
9. Five-Card Stayman (over 2NT) -WARNING
10. Puppet Stayman (over 2NT) - MAJOR WARNING
11. Modified Puppet - MAJOR WARNING

If you really want to get to grips with Stayman, you need to read everything except those topics given a WARNING. These sections are for serious partnerships and duplicate players. If you have any questions - please don't hesitate to contact me.

---

HISTORY

Sam Stayman (1909-1993) was an American bridge player, part of the US team which won the inaugural Bermuda Bowl in 1950 and subsequently in 1951 and 1953. Although the convention bears the name of Sam Stayman, it is widely accepted that he did not invent it. Initially in London during the early 40s, Mr Ewart Kempson and later 'Skid' Simon, developed ways to exchange information opposite an opening 1NT. Subsequently Jack Marx (also in England) and George Rapee took up the mantle. George Rapee was Stayman's regular partner and is often believed to be the true founder of the Stayman 2♣ convention. Jack Marx may have been prevented from publishing it until 1946, because all bridge publications were suspended due to paper-shortage in England. Stayman fine-tuned Rapee's convention and then promoted and published the convention under his own name in 1945 in "The Bridge World".

Stayman is usually the third (and often the last) convention learnt by bridge-players. The first is the opening 2♣ bid, which signifies 23+ points and the second Blackwood, 4NT ("how many aces do you have partner?"). The responses are also conventional.

A conventional bid is an artificial bid and says nothing about the suit bid. Stayman 2♣ is a conventional bid: it is 'forcing' and must never be passed. It says nothing about ♣s but asks, "Do you have a 4-card major suit partner?"

---

FUNDAMENTAL REQUIREMENTS for STAYMAN:

1. You need to have agreed to play it with partner.
2. You partner has opened 1NT (or 2NT) or overcalled 1NT.
3. You can cope with any response from partner.

---

HAND TYPES for STAYMAN:

A. Precisely 4 cards in ♥s or ♠s (or both), game values.
B. A weak hand with long ♣s (typically 6+ cards).
C. A weak hand which can handle any response.

---

Back to top: OVERVIEW
Next Page: REGULAR STAYMAN (in same window)
Next Page: REGULAR STAYMAN (in new window)

6:39 PM | Permalink |

 

Regular Stayman

---

REGULAR STAYMAN

HAND TYPE A:. Precisely 4 cards in ♥s or ♠s (or both), with at least enough points to invite game.

Hand-Type A (see above) is most frequent. The hand below represents the minimum point requirement if partner has opened a weak Notrump (12-14 points). You must have the values to invite game, i.e. eleven or more points.

You must hold PRECISELY 4 CARDS in ♥s or ♠s or both.

♠ A J 6 5
♥ 10 9 5 3
♦ A Q 5
♣ 6 4

---

POINT REQUIREMENTS for STAYMAN:
a) Partner opens a weak 1NT, 11+ points are required.
b) Partner overcalls 1NT, 8+ points are needed (or a good 7).
c) Partner opens 2NT, 4+ points are required.

6:38 PM | Permalink |

 

Weak Stayman

---

WEAK STAYMAN

CONTENTS:
1. Weak with long ♣s
2. Weak with 5-4 in Majors
3. Weak with 5-5 in Majors
4. Weak 3-suited Hand

---

1. Hand-Type B (0-10 points with long ♣s) is much rarer.

By agreeing to play Stayman, you are no longer able to bid 2♣ in a natural sense. Previously this would show five+ cards in ♣s and 0-10 points (i.e. no chance of game). This is known as the "Weakness Take-Out" and must be passed by the 1NT opener. Playing Stayman, if you want to make a Weakness Take-Out in ♣s you start by bidding 2♣ and then bid 3♣ over partner's response (cancelling Stayman), which partner must of course pass. This means you are contracting for nine tricks, so it is usually best to have six+ cards in your suit. With only five ♣s it is usually best to opt for seven tricks and pass 1NT.

♠ 6
♥ 10 9 5
♦ Q 5 2
♣ Q J 10 8 6 4

Bid 2♣ over partner's 1NT and then 3♣ over partner's response to your Stayman.

6:37 PM | Permalink |

 

Blank

6:37 PM | Permalink |

 

Advanced Stayman

---

ADVANCED STAYMAN

CONTENTS:
1. Stayman 3♣ to 2NT
2. Stayman cancelled after Double
3. Conventional Redouble option - MAJOR WARNING
4. Stayman after intervention - WARNING
5. Intervention after Stayman
6. Extended Stayman - WARNING
7. Stayman with Transfers - WARNING
8. Doubling Stayman
9. Five-Card Stayman (over 2NT) -WARNING
10. Puppet Stayman (over 2NT) - MAJOR WARNING
11. Modified Puppet - MAJOR WARNING

---

1. STAYMAN 3♣ over an OPENING 2NT

This works in exactly the same way except the bids are all one level higher.

Stayman is now 3♣ and there are again only three possible responses (not 3NT). There is no weak take-out opposite 2NT (unless you have agreed to play "Transfers"), so any bid requires 4+ points and commits the partnership to game....with one exception:

♠ 9 7 6 5
♥ 10 9 5 3
♦ 9 8 4 3 2
♣ -
Bidding 3♣ on this hand works well even with no points, as you can pass any response.

RESPONSES to STAYMAN 3♣:
a) 3♦ - No 4-card major, partner
b) 3♥ - I have 4 (or 5) hearts and maybe 4 spades too.
c) 3♠ - I have 4 (or 5) spades and not 4 hearts.

THERE ARE NO OTHER RESPONSES.
NEVER RESPOND 3NT.
NEVER RESPOND AT THE 4-LEVEL.

STAYMAN in RESPONSE to OTHER 2NT BIDS

A. Stayman applies equally well after the bidding begins
2♣ - 2♦ - 2NT (showing 23/24 points and a balanced hand):
this is the only 2♣ auction that can stop below game.
Two points (or a good one-point hand.....!) are required.

♠ 9 7 6 5
♥ J 10 9 5 3
♦ 9
♣ 7 6 3

After the auction 2♣ - 2♦ - 2NT you can bid 3♣ - Stayman.
If partner bids a major, raise to game.
If partner bids 3♦ (denial) bid 3♥ showing 5 cards, looking for either 4♥ if partner has three cards otherwise 3NT.

B. If an opponent opens a Weak-two, and partner overcalls 2NT, showing 15-18 balanced, with a stopper, it is winning strategy to employ 3♣ as Stayman. (Transfers can also be played - "systems on"). This needs to be agreed with partner.

---

2. STAYMAN after OPPONENTS DOUBLE

If your partner's 1NT opening bid (or 1NT overcall) is doubled, all bids are natural:

2♣ after a Double is no longer Stayman, but natural and weak and with five+ ♣s. It is vital that you are able to play in ♣s at the lowest level i.e. 2♣. Tournament players often choose to keep 2♣ as Stayman, so they use redouble as a rescue into ♣s (see below), and forego the use of redouble in a natural sense (Normally redouble is for business as in the auction: 1NT - Double - Redouble "We are going to make at least seven tricks in Notrumps - show me the money").


♠ 9 7 6 5
♥ 5 3
♦ 9 2
♣ 9 8 7 6 3

1NT - Double - ?
Bid 2♣ - natural, five+ ♣s weak and to play (yes, they are likely to double you, but you must surely make more tricks than you would left in 1NT doubled).


********************************************************************************************************************************
WARNING - EXTRA ADVANCED .
********************************************************************************************************************************

3. REDOUBLE FOR RESCUE

Having said this, many regular partnerships, especially at tournament level, agree to have "systems on" after a Double (including Transfers). They use Redouble to escape to 2♣/2♦, holding a 5-card minor suit - partner must bid 2♣, after which they pass or correct to 2♦. Sometimes it leads to the exotically named "Staveley Wriggle":

♠ 9 8 6 5
♥ 10 9 5 2
♦ 8 6 5 4
♣ 5

1NT (Partner) - Dble (opponent) - Redble (you) - Pass (oppo)
2♣ (Partner) - Dble (opponent) - Redble (you):

The first redouble forced partner to bid 2♣, and then you wait until the opponents double you again (you don't mind being left to play there with your singleton trump, making perhaps no tricks if you are undoubled).
The second Redouble says "choose any suit except ♣s partner". It is called an S.O.S Redouble, and demands partner choose any suit except ♣s, as clearly you could not want to play in 2♣ redoubled. Be careful with this one - only for the top tournament players (last time I did this my partner supported me to 3♣ and then left me there Redoubled - she did have five good ♣s so I managed to 'escape' for a mere 1000 points on a part-score hand.) We hadn't had that all important discussion about what system we were playing....

********************************************************************************************************************************
END OF WARNING ;
********************************************************************************************************************************


4. STAYMAN after OPPONENT'S OVERCALL

Bidding the opponents suit is Stayman, Bidding 3♣ shows ♣s (unless the opponents have overcalled ♣s in a natural sense - a 2♣ overcall is often used conventionally to show a 2-suiter: the 'Landy" convention promises both majors).

If an opponent overcalls a suit after partner has opened 1NT, this obviously prevents you from bidding 2♣. If you want to ask partner whether she has a 4-card major, you must bid the opponent's suit at the 3-level, committing you to 3NT.

♠ Q J 6 5
♥ A 9 5 2
♦ K 5
♣ Q 10 2

1NT - 2♦ (opponent) - 3♦ (you)
or
1NT - 2♣ (opponent) - 3♣ (you)

Your bid of the opponent's suit is 'Staymanic' and asks partner whether she has a 4-card major. The denial would be 3NT, so you need enough points for game, ideally 13+ or a good 12.

---

5. INTERVENTION after STAYMAN

If an opponent intervenes after Stayman has been bid, the 1NT opener must only make the bid he would have made without any intervention, i.e. at the 2-level, but NOT 2NT.

If an opponent overcalls 2♦ you can still bid 2♥/2♠.
If an opponent overcalls 2♥ you can still bid 2♠.
If an opponent overcalls 2♠ however, the 1NT opener can no longer make one of the three possible responses and must pass, or perhaps Double.

DO NOT BID 3♥, as the Stayman 2♣ might be one of the weak varieties (e.g. very weak with long ♣s and your bid will have forced partner to bid 4♣ - not what she wanted).

---

6. EXTENDED STAYMAN

I did play this with my brother Zeb for a while, but it is of questionable value, especially given its frequency and particularly for players who use Transfers.

♠ A 9 7 6 5
♥ A J 10 9 2
♦ 5
♣ 4 2

When holding moderate hands with 5-5 in the majors (for weak 5-5 hands see Weak Stayman above), you can use Stayman. If partner bids 2♥ or 2♠ you can raise to game. If partner bids 2♦ you can bid 3♦ - "Extended Stayman" - this asks partner for 3-card majors, and will help you discover your 5-3 major-suit fit. Hands which are 5-5 in the majors with slam interest are often best handled by going through Stayman 2♣. If you unearth a 5-4 fit, you chances of slam are vastly improved, and you can jump to the 4-level over partner's 2♥/2♠ - a splinter, which shows a singleton or void in the bid suit and agrees partner's major, with interest in slam.

6:36 PM | Permalink |

Monday, April 07, 2008 

Bridge Quiz Results

Many of you may remember our bridge day in Winterbourne Basset, where thanks to Mr and Mrs Knight, admirably aided by Gillian Fallon and her able team, we managed to raise a good deal of money for the Mark Cross Bone Cancer Fund and also play some fun bridge. I hope some of you still have your bridge booklets, from which you all completed a 'bridge quiz'. I have recently gone through your quiz answer sheets and marked them. Below is a list of the top scores:

Score

151   Nemmy Elliott
142   Mandy Weldon
139   Brian Twigger
130   Anthony Surteees
126   Annie Stone
---------------------
116   Diana Waterlow
115   George Weldon
107   Meg Davidson
107   Jane Laing
106   David de Saye
102   Susan Selby
102   Marina Penna
102   Patricia Coates
101   Rosemary Stockton
101   Jane Twines
100   Carol Donnelly
---------------------
99    Peter Hill
96    Mrs. E. Salmond
96    Virginia Ashton
95    Tessa Begg
95    Sir Padraic Fallon
93    Janette Roch
92    Belinda Barrow
92    Fayleen Billington
92    Clarissa Roe
90    Alison Clvin-Wright
90    Berit Swahn
---------------------
89    Jean Hart
89    Linda Weldon
88    Penny Rankin
87    Judy Burdett
87    Susanna Parsons
87    Penelope Burgess
86    Gillie Southcott
86    Prue Shepheard
85    Susie Crofton-Atkins
85    Susan Dinilildein
83    Andrea Kerr
82    Caroline Scott
82    Fiona Soames
82    Dolly Beresford-Jones
82    Susan Holland
80    John Evans
80    Gilly Doel
80    Sarah Buchanan
----------------------

Do not forget that there are 100 scores below the 80 mark - 80 is still a pretty good score (see below). While the maximum possible was in theory 200, the last six questions (worth 45 points) were a little bit random and even tougher than the rest of the quiz. The top three scores are truly excellent - particularly Nemmy.


140+     You should be teaching bridge - perhaps you already are?
120-139   I would be happy to have you sitting opposite me.
100-119   Excellent scores - you have a fine understanding of the game.
80-99     You would score beta+ in your bridge exam - one or two holes to plug.
>80        Bridge lessons anyone?

As promised way back in 2006 there are some prizes for the best scores. As well as coming from a family of bridge teachers, we are also well known as jigsaw puzzle makers, since my granny cut her first puzzle in 1915. Prizes are either in the form of jigsaws or bridge lessons - you have the choice. The jigsaws can be specially commissioned - simply choose a picture and specify any names you'd like to be included. I teach bridge lessons regularly in The Cotswolds (Little Barrington) and am increasingly running 'bridge days' - and mornings, afternoons and evenings - privately around the country, Devon to Shropshire to Yorkshire to London and everywhere in between.


1st Prize:   Free bridge course or free jigsaw (up to a value of £130)

2nd Prize:  2-for-1 bridge course or free jigsaw (up to a value of £65)

3rd Prize:   Free bridge day or half-price jigsaw (up to value of £130)
-------------------------------------------------------------
4th Prize:   2-for-1 bridge day or half-price jigsaw (up to value of £65)

5th Prize:   2-for-1 bridge day or half-price jigsaw (up to value of £65)
-------------------------------------------------------------
6th Prize:   Free bridge lesson or child's jigsaw (up to value of £25)

7th Prize:   Free bridge lesson or child's jigsaw (up to value of £25)
-------------------------------------------------------------
8th Prize:   2-for-1 bridge lesson or 2-for-1 child's jigsaw
- down to
14th Prize:  2-for-1 bridge lesson or 2-for-1 child's jigsaw
-------------------------------------------------------------

If you have finished with a score of 100 or more, you have won a prize. If it is bridge lessons you would like, you can come to my classes in the Cotswolds (£130 for a course of 8 weeks), or come to one of my bridge days or organise one yourself. If it is a jigsaw you require, choose a picture or request a brochure:

Children's jigsaws start at £25 and are suitable for 3 years upwards. They are hand-cut and wooden, and will contain the child's name cut into individual letters, as well as various animal silhouettes - the perfect present for grandchildren.

My regular jigsaws are difficult and can be made fiendish for the connoisseur. Typically a 10 x 8 photo can be made into a 200-250 piece puzzle at a cost of £65 and a 10 x 15 costs £130. Pictures are not provided on the puzzle box.....

Please claim any prize by Christmas 2008.

3:23 PM | Permalink |

Tuesday, March 11, 2008 

KILIMANJARO

Is this the highest game of bridge ever played? I'd like to know. Thanks to Felix (far right) and his amazing team of porters who made this possible. They made themselves some extra dollars and helped raise many more for children orphaned by Aids. Credit to Jem Fawcus, our photographer, Rob Waddington & Nick Prideaux (left & far-left).



                  



With just over a month to go before Christmas, I received an email from two friends, requesting sponsorship. They were off to climb Kilimanjaro on the Kenyan-Tanzanian border. So I rang Rob and asked him when he was starting, and whether I might join him. Disappointingly, they were intending to start climbing on December 17th, summitting on December 21st, the summer solstice, as Kilimanjaro is just below the equator. Christmas is a busy time of year for me as I make wooden jigsaw puzzles, so I thought it unlikely that I would be able to complete my orders in time - traditionally I deliver puzzles around the Home Counties on Christmas Eve.

The more I thought about it the more I realised this was too good an opportunity to miss, and after three weeks of back-breaking puzzle cutting (they are all cut by hand on a treadle machine), with much help from the support team, my mum, my dad and Max, my 5-year old son, I was touching down in Nairobi.

I was met at the airport by Han and shown to the cottage of Rob's sister, Joe, a tranquil haven, lush with fragrant flowers. She was with Rob and his wife visiting villages in Northern Kenya, where her charity helps children, orphaned by AIDS.

Suitably refreshed, I headed out next morning, with bags of kit ("Kili", I knew, was no pushover) and met up with the other members of the party - Rob and Jem - both of whom I had lived with in London and a late addition, Nick, whom I'd not met.
The team was assembled and under scorching heat we headed off South in a small plane. An hour later we caught our first glimpse of our future - shrouded in clouds there she was, rising majestic from the dusty plains. Our adventure suddenly felt real, stomachs flipping. Kilimanjaro is in fact the largest free-standing mountain on earth. Interestingly because of the earth's equatorial bulge it is the point that protrudes furthest into space. Those who believe life was first seeded from space point to that part of the Rift valley, close by, where the earliest human skulls were found.

On landing we were met by Felix and his land-cruiser. Felix had fled Rwanda with his family, and as well as being Joe's boyfriend was a fully qualified guide. This would be his 22nd ascent - he also holds the 2nd fastest time, 30 hours, for the full up-and-down. This was reassuring.

We spent the evening in our hotel, checking and double-checking our kit. After a last supper and an early night, we headed through lush banana plantations to our starting point, where we met his team. We were just under 3000 metres above sea-level, and he had decided to take us up the 'whisky' route, so-called because, unlike the 'Coca-Cola' route it is the hardest. Thanks Felix. This would in fact increase our chances of success.

After a leisurely start of colobus monkeys and vibrant jungle, the climb kicked in, unrelenting, breathless and hot - thankfully unlike the Coca-Cola we had lots of cover and not a soul in sight. We arrived at our first camp, just before sundown and discovered we'd made good time, ahead of most of our team - dinner was still half an hour behind us, but we had our mess tent, a table and four chairs, and I had a pack of cards.....
.....ten minutes later Rob was declaring 3NT, and bridge had begun - the perfect tonic for hunger and altitude - we were now around 3500m high. Rob had played before, and the other two had card-sense, so time sped by until the best hot meal of the year, followed by instant sleep.

After a big breakfast, we were soon on the trail again, emerging from the jungle, and into the clouds and a truly alien environment - giant Lobelias. Felix reckoned we were walking too fast - he had not been able to accompany us on the first day, as he had to organise his team, so he placed himself at the head, and taught us Swahili for slow. Like in bridge, the tortoise wins the race: we were overtaken on day 2 and 3 by many mocking hares, but we had the last laugh when we later found them on their knees 400 metres below the summit. Laughter was in fact what I remember most - somewhere between unadulterated joy and altitude-induced delirium.

We arrived at our camp on Day 2 mid-afternoon, now at 4200 metres with Kili in full majesty and the card-table emerged again. Day 3 and 4 saw us ascend very little, half-days in fact, so plenty of opportunity for bridge, in fact the ideal tonic to take our minds off the final push. Our four was now quite accomplished, and I had the idea that we might try and play bridge on the summit, with a view to raising some additional money for ACE-AFRICA, Joe's charity. So at 4600 metres, the plan was hatched. We were due to begin our climb at midnight, seven hours straight up, arriving just after dawn at the rim.
Felix had hand-picked his 4 best men, leaving 5 behind at the final camp, and assigned one to each of us. We had negotiated a handsome bonus for the team as they would have to carry the table and the four chairs. I was in charge of the cards and the cloth. They were delighted - while we had headaches and derangement, they were huddled in the tent singing and smoking.
I awoke marginally worse than when I had eventually managed to drop off. My head felt primaeval. Porridge was vital, but hard to keep down, and the idea of bridge up there seemed absurd. If I could have spoken I would have told the team not to bother with the chairs and table. Wearing every piece of clothing we had, we started, last in a steady trail of head-torches - over 10,000 'tourists' climb Kili every year, and December is busy as the weather is more reliable. Snowstorms and death are not uncommon. Hundreds don't make it to the top. Many of the porters have to turn back - altitude sickness can slay a regular marathon runner. Nature is cruel and random, and nowhere on earth did this feel more true.
I was certain I would not make it - how could I, when I felt so appallingly wretched? I yearned for a break, an end to it all, just to sit down, but on we plodded, even the moon was ghastly bright. Over an hour later, we stopped, still the last group on the mountain. Warm water - heavenly elixir, but the break was not our friend. We had to press on or we'd lose heat - seriously sub-zero by now, we were off. I was reallocated to Felix's heels. That is all I saw for the next two hours, until a moment of epiphany, when I knew. The first words I spoke on that mountain, that night "I'm going to make it".
We stopped again, but spirits were up. No one had asked the dreaded question, "How much further?" and no one did. Slowly we started to overtake first one group then another, but with no sense of triumph, just sheer gratitude.
And then the sky to the east began to redden, the rim was in sight. This lunar landscape slowly appeared before us - our bones were warming and still we plodded, until finally we were there, Gillman's point, and yet there from the rim as the sun rose, we could see far away the sign. The sign that surely says "Highest point in Africa - 5895 metres", half-way round the crater. Did we have a choice? We couldn't play bridge here - what a joke that would be.

We began again. Troubled but thankful. The last stretch slowest of all. Breath by breath. Marvelling at impossible ice-structures, steaming craters, and the hazy dust of Africa, far below. Cold, yet dazzled by sunshine - strange paradox, because it is there. We did all make it, we did set up our bridge table - a chair, weird but welcome. Luckily I had dealt the hand in advance. I distributed the cards, 13 off the top. We bid, we played, we conquered, and then we left. "Uhuru", or "Freedom" as the peak is known is not a place to discuss the rarer trump squeezes - temperatures of minus 30 are commonplace. It is however a place I would like to visit again, so if anyone fancies a game.....?

In truth, I prefer my bridge at sea-level, but the exhilaration even as you descend your first foot (19341 in total) is profound. What took us over seven hours to climb took us just one to descend, scree running our way to breakfast. We spent a final night on the mountain, a night of luxury in our hotel, before heading off to the Swahili coast, and five days of well-earned 'r&r' by the beach in Felix and Joe's beach hut.

Please visit www.ace-africa.org - perhaps you too might change a child's life.

5:39 PM | Permalink |

 

Stayman - Overview (Small Type)

---

TO SEE THIS IN LARGER PRINT CLICK HERE
TO SEE THIS IN LARGER PRINT CLICK HERE


STAYMAN - CONTENTS:

OVERVIEW
1. History
2. Requirements
3. Hand Types

---

REGULAR STAYMAN:
1. Point Requirements
2. Responses
3. Examples

---

WEAK STAYMAN (More Advanced):
1. "Weak-take-out" in ♣s
2. Five-four in both majors, 0-10 points
3. Esoteric Stayman - WARNING

---

ADVANCED STAYMAN:
1. Stayman 3♣ to 2NT
2. Stayman cancelled after Double
3. Conventional Redouble option - MAJOR WARNING
4. Stayman after intervention - WARNING
5. Intervention after Stayman
6. Extended Stayman - WARNING
7. Stayman with Transfers - WARNING
8. Doubling Stayman
9. Five-Card Stayman (over 2NT) -WARNING
10. Puppet Stayman (over 2NT) - MAJOR WARNING
11. Modified Puppet - MAJOR WARNING

If you really want to get to grips with Stayman, you need to read everything except those topics given a WARNING. These sections are for serious partnerships and duplicate players. If you have any questions - please don't hesitate to contact me.

---

HISTORY

Sam Stayman (1909-1993) was an American bridge player, part of the US team which won the inaugural Bermuda Bowl in 1950 and subsequently in 1951 and 1953. Although the convention bears the name of Sam Stayman, it is widely accepted that he did not invent it. Initially in London during the early 40s, Mr Ewart Kempson and later 'Skid' Simon, developed ways to exchange information opposite an opening 1NT. Subsequently Jack Marx (also in England) and George Rapee took up the mantle. George Rapee was Stayman's regular partner and is often believed to be the true founder of the Stayman 2♣ convention. Jack Marx may have been prevented from publishing it until 1946, because all bridge publications were suspended due to paper-shortage in England. Stayman fine-tuned Rapee's convention and then promoted and published the convention under his own name in 1945 in "The Bridge World".

Stayman is usually the third (and often the last) convention learnt by bridge-players.
The first is the opening 2♣ bid, which signifies 23+ points and the second Blackwood, 4NT ("how many aces do you have partner?"). The responses are also conventional.

A conventional bid is an artificial bid and says nothing about the suit bid.
Stayman 2♣ is a conventional bid: it is 'forcing' and must never be passed.
It says nothing about ♣s but asks, "Do you have a 4-card major suit partner?"

---

FUNDAMENTAL REQUIREMENTS for STAYMAN:

1. You need to have agreed to play it with partner.
2. You partner must have opened 1NT (or 2NT) or overcalled 1NT.
3. You need to be able to cope with any response from partner.

---

HAND TYPES for STAYMAN:

A. Precisely 4 cards in ♥s or ♠s (or both), with enough points to invite game.
B. A hand with long ♣s (typically 6+ cards) and a weak hand (0-10 points)
C. A weak hand which can handle any response.

---

Back to top: OVERVIEW
Next Page: REGULAR STAYMAN (in same window)
Next Page: REGULAR STAYMAN (in new window)

5:11 PM | Permalink |

 

Regular Stayman

---

HAND TYPE A:. Precisely 4 cards in ♥s or ♠s (or both), with enough points to invite game.

Hand-Type A (see above) is most frequent. The hand below represents the minimum point requirement if partner has opened a weak Notrump (12-14 points). You must have the values to invite game, i.e. eleven points opposite a weak Notrump opening.
You must hold PRECISELY 4 CARDS in ♥s or ♠s or both.

♠ A J 6 5
♥ 10 9 5 3
♦ A Q 5
♣ 6 4

---

POINT REQUIREMENTS for STAYMAN:
a) When Partner has opened a weak 1NT, 11+ points are required.
b) When Partner has bid 1NT as an overcall, 8+ points are required (also a good 7).
c) When Partner has opened 2NT, 4+ points are required.
If you are playing a strong Notrump, treat it in the same way you would a 1NT overcall - see category b) above.

---

RESPONSES to STAYMAN 2♣:
a) 2♦ - No 4-card major, partner
b) 2♥ - I have 4 (or 5) hearts and maybe 4 spades too.
c) 2♠ - I have 4 (or 5) spades and not 4 hearts.

THERE ARE NO OTHER RESPONSES.
NEVER RESPOND 2NT.
NEVER RESPOND AT THE 3-LEVEL.

---

♠ A J 6 5
♥ 10 9 5 3
♦ A Q 5
♣ 6 4

On the hand featured above, respond 2♣ to your partner's Weak Notrump opening.
If she responds 2♦ you bid 2NT, inviting 3NT, if partner holds 14 points (or a good 13).
If she responds 2♥ or 2♠ you can raise to 3♥ or 3♠ inviting game.

---

Changing the hand slightly:
♠ A J 6 5
♥ 10 9 5
♦ A K Q 5
♣ 6 4

You respond 2♣ looking for a 4-4 ♠ fit.
If partner responds 2♦ you bid 3NT.
If partner responds 2♥ you also bid 3NT, which partner will convert to 4♠ if she holds four cards in both the majors. (Remember you must have precisely 4 cards in ♥s or ♠s to use Stayman originally - you didn't support ♥s, so you must have 4 cards in ♠s.
If partner responds 2♠ you raise to game - 4♠.

---

Changing the hand again:
♠ A J 6 5 3
♥ 10 9 5 2
♦ A K 5
♣ 6

This time you would like to investigate a potential 4-4 ♥ fit and also the potential 8+ card ♠ fit. As ever we use Stayman to discover whether we have a 4-4 fit.

Respond 2♣ over partner's 1NT opening.
If she bids 2♦ you jump to 3♠ - the bid you would have made if you weren't playing Stayman. This shows 5 cards in spades and asks partner to choose between 3NT (with only two cards in spades) or 4♠ (holding three cards).
If she bids 2♥ or 2♠ you can raise to 4♥ or 4♠.

---

Back to top: REGULAR STAYMAN
Next Page: WEAK STAYMAN (in same window:
Next Page: WEAK STAYMAN (in new window):
Back to OVERVIEW (in new window)

5:08 PM | Permalink |

Friday, February 29, 2008 

Weak Stayman

---

CONTENTS:
1. Weak with long ♣s
2. Weak with 5-4 in Majors
3. Weak with 5-5in Majors
4. Weak 3-suited Hand

---

1. Hand-Type B (0-10 points with long ♣s) is much rarer.

By agreeing to play Stayman, you are no longer able to bid 2♣ in a natural sense. Previously this would show 5+ cards in ♣s and 0-10 points (i.e. no chance of game). This is known as the "Weakness Take-Out" and must be passed by the 1NT opener. Playing Stayman, if you want to make a Weakness Take-Out in ♣s you start by bidding 2♣ and then bid 3♣ over partner's response (cancelling Stayman), which partner must of course pass. This means you are contracting for 9 tricks, so it is usually best to have 6+ cards in your suit. With only 5 ♣s it is usually best to opt for 7 tricks and pass 1NT.

♠ 6
♥ 10 9 5
♦ Q 5 2
♣ Q J 10 8 6 4

Bid 2♣ over partner's 1NT and then 3♣ over partner's response to your Stayman.
This cancels Stayman - partner must pass. It does not promise a 4-card major.

---

2. Hand-types C are the least-known Stayman hands.
You are able to use Stayman with 0-10 points, provided you have 5-4 in the majors.

If partner responds in your major, you can pass, raise or use the Losing Trick Count.
If partner bids 2♦ you bid your 5-card major, as a Weakness Take-Out.

♠ J 10 6 5 2
♥ K 10 9 5
♦ 5
♣ 6 4 3

Before Stayman, you would simply respond 2♠ to partner's 1NT opener. With Stayman you are able to look for a 4-4 ♥ fit, passing if partner bids 2♥ or 2♠. If partner responds 2♦ you make the bid you would have made, 2♠ and partner must pass.

♠ A 10 6 5
♥ K 10 9 5 3
♦ 5
♣ Q 4 3

On this hand you can respond Stayman 2♣, and if partner responds 2♦ you can settle for 2♥. If partner responds 2♥ or 2♠ to your 2♣ you can raise to game, by virtue of your singleton ♦. Those using the Losing Trick Count will arrive at the same answer.

---

3. You can also use Stayman on all hands with 5-5 in the majors and 0-10 points.

If partner bids 2♦ simply choose a major and bid 2 of that suit as a weak-take-out, which partner will pass. If you find a 5-4 fit, you can use the Losing Trick Count to see whether game is viable. See under Extended Stayman for more on 5-5 hands:

♠ 9 7 6 5 2
♥ 10 9 8 5 3
♦ K 3
♣ 2

Bid 2♣, intending to pass any major suit response, and over 2♦ bid 2♥.

---

4. There are various 3-suited hand-types that can handle any response by partner:

♠ Q J 6 5
♥ 10 9 5 3
♦ Q 8 4 3 2
♣ -

Perfect for Stayman - you can pass any response.

♠ J 9 5
♥ 10 9 5 3
♦ K Q 5 4 3
♣ 6

Not quite so perfect as partner may respond 2♠ (with 4 cards, occasionally 5). This will however often prove to be a better contract than 1NT, especially if they don't find a trump lead, as you can trump ♣s in dummy. 4-3 trump fits work well when there is a singleton in the shorter trump holding. Put it this way, if partner were to open 1♠ the best response would be to raise to 2♠. "Moysian" fits (four trumps opposite three) require delicate handling and are much loved by experts.

♠ A J 6 5
♥ 10 9 5 3
♦ -
♣ J 10 9 6 4

Many would bid 2♣ on this hand also. It works fine when partner bids a major suit (55% of the time), but over a 2♦ response, you are now compelled to bid 3♣ which may result in a 5-2 fit at the 3-level. This is probably worth the risk as on average, partner will hold 3 cards in ♣s and sometimes 4 or even 5 cards.

---

Back to top: WEAK STAYMAN
Next Page: ADVANCED STAYMAN (in new window)
Next Page: ADVANCED STAYMAN (in same window)
Back to OVERVIEW (in new window)

3:07 PM | Permalink |

 

Advanced Stayman

CONTENTS:
1. Stayman 3♣ to 2NT
2. Stayman cancelled after Double
3. Conventional Redouble option - MAJOR WARNING
4. Stayman after intervention - WARNING
5. Intervention after Stayman
6. Extended Stayman - WARNING
7. Stayman with Transfers - WARNING
8. Doubling Stayman
9. Five-Card Stayman (over 2NT) -WARNING
10. Puppet Stayman (over 2NT) - MAJOR WARNING
11. Modified Puppet - MAJOR WARNING

---

1. STAYMAN 3♣ over an OPENING 2NT

This works in exactly the same way except the bids are all one level higher.

Stayman is now 3♣ and there are again only three possible responses (not 3NT). There is no weak take-out opposite 2NT (unless you have agreed to play "Transfers"), so any bid requires 4+ points and commits the partnership to game....with one exception:

♠ 9 7 6 5
♥ 10 9 5 3
♦ 9 8 4 3 2
♣ -
Bidding 3♣ on this hand works well even with no points, as you can pass any response.

RESPONSES to STAYMAN 3♣:
a) 3♦ - No 4-card major, partner
b) 3♥ - I have 4 (or 5) hearts and maybe 4 spades too.
c) 3♠ - I have 4 (or 5) spades and not 4 hearts.

THERE ARE NO OTHER RESPONSES.
NEVER RESPOND 3NT.
NEVER RESPOND AT THE 4-LEVEL.

STAYMAN in RESPONSE to OTHER 2NT BIDS

A. Stayman works equally well after the bidding begins 2♣ - 2♦ - 2NT.
This is the only 2♣ auction that can stop below game.
At least two points (or a good one-point hand.....!) are required.

♠ 9 7 6 5
♥ J 10 9 5 3
♦ 9
♣ 7 6 3

If partner has shown 23/24 points: 2♣ - 2♦ - 2NT - then bid 3♣ - Stayman.
If partner bids a major, raise to game.
If partner bids 3♦ (denial) bid 3♥ showing 5 cards, looking for 4♥/3NT.

B. If an opponent opens a Weak-two Opener, and partner overcalls 2NT, showing 15-18 balanced, with a stopper, it is winning strategy to employ 3♣ as Stayman. (Transfers can also be played - "systems on"). This needs to be agreed with partner.

---

2. STAYMAN after OPPONENTS DOUBLE

If your partner's 1NT opening bid (or 1NT overcall) is doubled, all bids are natural:

2♣ after a Double is no longer Stayman, but weak with five+ ♣s. It is vital that you are able to play in ♣s at the lowest level i.e. 2♣. Tournament players often choose to keep 2♣ as Stayman, so they use redouble as a rescue into ♣s (see below), and forego the use of redouble in a natural sense (Normally redouble is for business as in the auction: 1NT - Double - Redouble "We are going to make at least seven tricks in Notrumps - show me the money").


♠ 9 7 6 5
♥ 5 3
♦ 9 2
♣ 9 8 7 6 3

1NT - Double - ?
Bid 2♣ - natural, five+ ♣s weak and to play (yes, they are likely to double you, but you must surely make more tricks than you would left in 1NT doubled).


********************************************************************************************************************************
WARNING - EXTRA ADVANCED .
********************************************************************************************************************************

3. REDOUBLE FOR RESCUE

Having said this, many regular partnerships, especially at tournament level, agree to have "systems on" after a Double (including Transfers). They use Redouble to escape to 2♣/2♦, holding a 5-card minor suit - partner must bid 2♣, after which they pass or correct to 2♦. Sometimes it leads to the exotically named "Staveley Wriggle":

♠ 9 8 6 5
♥ 10 9 5 2
♦ 8 6 5 4
♣ 5

Partner: 1NT - Double (opponent) - Redouble (you) - Pass (opponent)
Partner: 2♣ - Double (opponent) - Redouble (you):

The first redouble forced partner to bid 2♣.
The second Redouble says "choose any suit except ♣s partner". It is called an S.O.S Redouble or more properly a "Koch-Werner" Redouble, and demands partner choose any suit except ♣s, as clearly you could not want to play in 2♣ redoubled.
Be careful with this one - only for the top tournament players (last time I did this my partner supported me to 3♣ and then left me there Redoubled - she did have five good ♣s so I managed to 'escape' for a mere 1000 points on a part-score hand.) We hadn't had that all important discussion about what system we were playing....

********************************************************************************************************************************
END OF WARNING ;
********************************************************************************************************************************


4. STAYMAN after OPPONENT'S OVERCALL

Bidding the opponents suit is Stayman, Bidding 3♣ shows ♣s (unless the opponents have overcalled ♣s in a natural sense - a 2♣ overcall is often conventional ).

If an opponent overcalls a suit after partner has opened 1NT, this obviously prevents you from bidding 2♣. If you want to ask partner whether she has a 4-card major, you must bid the opponent's suit at the 3-level, committing you to 3NT.

♠ Q J 6 5
♥ A 9 5 2
♦ K 5
♣ Q 10 2

1NT - 2♦ (opponent) - 3♦ (you)
    or
1NT - 2♣ (opponent) - 3♣ (you)

Your bid of the opponent's suit is 'Staymanic' and asks partner whether she has a 4-card major. The denial would be 3NT, so you need enough points for game, ideally 13+ or a good 12.

---

5. INTERVENTION after STAYMAN

If an opponent intervenes after Stayman has been bid, the 1NT opener must only make the bid he would have made without any intervention, i.e. at the 2-level, but NOT 2NT.

If an opponent overcalls 2♦ you can still bid 2♥/2♠.
If an opponent overcalls 2♥ you can still bid 2♠.
If an opponent overcalls 2♠ however, the 1NT opener can no longer make one of the three possible responses and must pass, or perhaps Double.

DO NOT BID 3♥, as the Stayman 2♣ might be one of the weak varieties (e.g. very weak with long ♣s and your bid will have forced partner to bid 4♣ - not what she wanted).

---

6. EXTENDED STAYMAN

I did play this with my brother Zeb for a while, but it is of questionable value, especially given its frequency and particularly for players who use Transfers.

♠ A 9 7 6 5
♥ A J 10 9 2
♦ 5
♣ 4 2

When holding moderate hands with 5-5 in the majors (for weak 5-5 hands see Weak Stayman above), you can use Stayman. If partner bids 2♥ or 2♠ you can raise to game. If partner bids 2♦ you can bid 3♦ - "Extended Stayman" - this asks partner for 3-card majors, and will help you discover your 5-3 major-suit fit. Hands which are 5-5 in the majors with slam interest are often best handled by going through Stayman 2♣. If you unearth a 5-4 fit, you chances of slam are vastly improved, and you can jump to the 4-level over partner's 2♥/2♠ - a splinter, which shows a singleton or void in the bid suit and agrees partner's major, with interest in slam. Extended Stayman is rare and most players use 3♦ after a 2♦ response to Stayman to show five+ ♦s with game values (at least).

---

7. STAYMAN with TRANSFERS

If you are playing red-suit Transfers over 1NT, this allows you to use the 2♠ transfer to show a weakness take-out in either ♣s or ♦s. The 1NT opener bids 3♣ and the responder passes if weak in ♣s or corrects to 3♦ if weak in ♦s. This means you no longer need to go through Stayman 2♣ followed by 3♣ to show a weak hand with ♣s. This sequence is therefore forcing showing 5+ cards in ♣s, a 4-card major and slam interest.

When holding 5-4 in the majors, it is possible for experienced partnerships to distinguish between invitational hands and game-forcing hands. Transfers can be used to show the invitational types, but this is an area that must be agreed.

---

8. DOUBLING STAYMAN

All doubles of conventional bids are lead-directing.

If your opponent bids Stayman, you should be hesitant to overcall on marginal values, especially vulnerable, as your opponents are likely to hold at least 23 points between them (Stayman usually shows 11+ points). You are guaranteed to have a second chance to bid, so pass and await developments, unless you have a good 6+ suit.

Doubling Stayman shows ♣s and is meant as a lead-directing bid (as is Doubling the 2♦ response). Please lead a ♣ partner. To make such a double, you need at least five good ♣s. If the opening side Redouble this is "To Play". You need to be cautious when doubling their Stayman (I doubled a 3♣ Stayman bid opposite a 2NT opener, which the opponents promptly redoubled, and I was only able to take two tricks with my five good ♣s. Redoubled overtricks are an expensive business.....although I did keep them out of their slam for a break-even result.
DOUBLING ANY CONVENTIONAL BID IS LEAD-DIRECTING.

---

9. FIVE-CARD STAYMAN

It is normal practice for tournament players to use 5-card Stayman when their partner opens 2NT. This asks partner whether they have a 4-card or 5-card major suit. Responder needs 3+ cards in at least one of the majors and 4+ points.

The responses are:
3♦ - No 5-card major, but I do have at least one 4-card major
3♥ - I have 5 cards in ♥s
3♠ - I have 5 cards in ♠s
3NT - I have no 4-card or 5-card major.

After 3♦, responder shows her cheapest 4-card major and any 4-4 fit will be unearthed.

---

10. PUPPET STAYMAN

This is one for regular partnerships, usually advanced tournament players. It is a winning convention, but comes up rarely (like nearly all conventions), so it should be taken with a pinch of salt by all but the truly dedicated.

The bidding is the same as for 5-CARD STAYMAN, except after the 3♦ response, the Stayman bidder bids such that the strong hand always plays the hand.

2NT - 3♣ - 3♦ (promising at least one four-card major) - ?

3♥ - shows 4 cards in ♠s but not in ♥s.
3♠ - shows 4 cards in ♥s but not in ♠s.
3NT - no 4-card major.
4♣- 4 cards in both majors with slam interest.
4♦ - 4 cards in both majors with no slam interest.

♠ K 10 9 7
♥ J 10 9 2
♦ 9 5 2
♣ 4 2

When partner opens 2NT, you bid 3♣, and partner responds 3♦ which denies a 5-card major but promises a 4-card major. You can now bid 4♦ which shows 4 cards in both majors and ensures the lead comes around to the strong hand, protecting partner's strength and concealing the big hand. Partner bids her major suit.

---

11. MODIFIED PUPPET (aka MUPPET)

I could also tell you about Modified Puppet, which allows responder to discover any available major suit fit even when holding five cards in ♠s and four cards in ♥s (with five cards in ♥s and four cards in ♠s you simply transfer), but I'll wait until you ask. If you've made it this far you've done well. Any questions? Please don't hesitate.

---

Back to OVERVIEW (in new window)
Back to top

---

CONTENTS:
1. Stayman 3♣ to 2NT
2. Stayman cancelled after Double
3. Conventional Redouble option - MAJOR WARNING
4. Stayman after intervention - WARNING
5. Intervention after Stayman
6. Extended Stayman - WARNING
7. Stayman with Transfers - WARNING
8. Doubling Stayman
9. Five-Card Stayman (over 2NT) -WARNING
10. Puppet Stayman (over 2NT) - MAJOR WARNING
11. Modified Puppet - MAJOR WARNING

2:41 PM | Permalink |

Thursday, June 07, 2007 

The Art of Bridge

The Art of Bridge is an idea I arrived at for the ultimate bridge book, or rather my first bridge book. The title was inspired by the 70s classic (slightly dull in fact) "Zen and the Art of Motor-Cycle Maintenance", but with fewer Hondas, thank God. It seems appropriate to my recent adventures in Umbria, where two groups of bridge playing painters enjoyed five days in the hills above Perugia. "Bridge, Brushstrokes and Birdsong" was the brainchild of David and Annabel Barnett and proved to be a winning formula. I met Annabel while teaching 16 ladies on a sunny Cotswold hill - and the idea was born. The initial plan had been hatched under the assumption that Ryanair - our favourite airline.... would be running their scheduled flight as promised at the suitably civilized time of 11.15 a.m. Naturally this proved not to be the case and our new time of 7 in the morning had one advantage - we would all get to see the sunrise...... good training for our early morning birdsong with Egidio, the birdman of Brindisi. For me it worked well (apart from advantage number two - the new flight being cheaper) as I had spent the weekend in Cambridge, attending a course, "Alchemy, the Road to Science" - which began mysteriously as our lecturer introduced himself, "Hi my name is Simon and I am the Alchemist", but not a cauldron in sight... So Sunday morning I had to forego learning about Sir Isaac Newton and his adventures in alchemy and instead head down the road to my birthplace, Stansted, where 16 sleepy bridge-players were brushing up their 'nothing to declarer play'.

Touching down in a field at the world's smallest airport at breakneck speed is best done with as little sleep as possible - advantage number three - by the time you have worked out you should be terrified, the Captain has skidded to a halt by the fire-engines. After the absurdities of the carousel - it would not have been out of place at a midget's fairground - we were being welcomed to a cloudless 30 degree heat by David, his military precision and his vans - what is the Italian for white-van-man? - and heading for the hills. Racchiusole is a large estate sitting a few thousand feet up, comprising four villas, all with swimming pools, a tennis court and some sumptuous views. Two of the villas, Scopetaccio and Calachiesa are rentable as holiday homes - www.racchiusole.com - while Casa Barnetti was to be home to a few including the Barnetts and the site of many a fine bridge contract. The fourth villa was the preserve of our hosts, Tony Russell and Ann Dawson, who had created their slice of paradise with a keen and luxurious eye for detail.

After a most welcome lunch, a swim and a siesta, 12 of us sat down to a few gentle hands of bridge with the remainder sitting down to an easel, a blank canvas and Frankie Cummins' expert instruction. For my part the bridge went well, thanks in large part to my brother Zeb's compass cards. Over the course of the week, as well as consolidating the basics, we tackled some complex topics ranging from Doubling, Weak Twos and the wonders of Roman Key-Card Blackwood. We also found time for two duplicate sessions, pairs and teams, while meandering through the mundanities of Stayman (the most abused convention since Geneva) and onto the exotica of The Unassuming Cue-Bird. Nothing was assumed, and although standards were mixed, enjoyment was not.

My favourite bridge moment was my busman's holiday - a couple of hours of bridge in a square in Perugia - despite hardly picking up a card. I did play one contract however, partnering Nicholas Jones, we bid to the dizzy heights of two NoTrumps - also known as no-man's land - we could have been in 1NT or 3NT, both of which strangely I would have made. After Cherry Jones to my left led her fourth highest spade, which ran smoothly to my Ten (I also held the Jack and Nine) after Tom Wilson to dummy's right, contributed a smooth seven. To cut a long story short I set up dummy's five-card club suit with Tom ducking his ace correctly to deny me access, whereupon Tom switched to dummy's weakness. I regained the lead to play a spade, the suit Cherry had initially led, towards dummy's King, my entry to the winning clubs and claim an overtrick or two..... disaster! I had not counted on the calculated cunning of Mr. Wilson who had expertly withheld his Spade Ace at trick one and with a triumphant glint Tom placed it ever so gently on the moustachioed sword-wielder and I was notching another score in the wrong column. Curiously this gave me great pleasure - I am a fan of quality in whatever guise (the only thing that resonated in "Zen and his Hondas") - better to have been outplayed and lost than never to have played at all.

The food was excellent, starting well and getting better and more varied throughout the course of the two weeks - all to the accompaniment of fine wine. We managed an excursion to the finest pizzeria in Umbria in our first week and the Hotel Rosetta in Perugia during the second week, thank you to those who made that happen - it was a lovely gesture. On the final night we had a private view to see all the creations that had come together under Frankie's supervision - a startlingly accomplished collection. My first and only foray into painting came on Saturday, once the first group of guests had left: I had a tricky decision that proved easy - FA cup final or a chance to paint the artichokes? A match as dull as ditch-water or sitting in wonderful sunshine learning to paint? Although I will not be rushing to give up the day job or the night shift, I had fun and surprised myself - I will be taking some children to visit Frankie shortly. You can find out more about Frankie by visiting her site - www.paintingweekends.com

Our first group of guests left early Friday, leaving me with my minibus and my wonderlust. So after a visit to the charms of Lake Trasimena, laden with Frankie's smokes and some unnecessary plastic objects, I hit the autostrada towards Assisi, cruising comfortably at three figures when up popped the sign to Rome, a mere 150kms - a few complex calculations later - and I realised Rome was mine for the taking in exactly one hour. I turned right to Rome to discover, sure enough, where all roads do lead..... Heading in as the rush-hour headed out, I soon arrived outside the Vatican and following the other adage - did as the Romans do.... so parked my big white van wherever the hell I liked, twiddled the meter inside the van (odd - no?) and prayed to the Roman God of Parking, Meterfidus. I had been to Rome once aged 8, but went on to study Classics for the next 15 years, so my return was as overdue as it was unexpected. I walked my socks off, from St. Peters to the Coliseum, only to find myself amid fleets of classic sportscars - the Mille Miglia Storica was in town, and roaring to the growl of old engines. Returning to the van with cameras full of Ferraris and more bags of unnecessary shopping, I discovered that the van was still there unmolested by Italian traffic wardens - beautiful, charming and clad in Versace by the way although I understood not a word (Italian for van?)- and that it was parked next to what turned out to be a delightful restaurant. I emerged around midnight, having established at the eleventh hour that the barmaid with whom I was flirting in some hybrid language, was in fact married with children (where was the ring?) but I did experience the finest Tiramisu ever created, that is until six days later when Tony and Ann trumped it with one of their own. Leaving Rome proved harder, although I did manage to leave the city five times, before a friendly Italian spoke the immortal words, "Follow me" (in English luckily) and I was free, heading North, 90 minutes later than planned and with considerable experience of the Italian suburbs - very nice indeed by the way. The upside to all of this other than waking the returning dogs at four in the morning. - sorry David! - was my subsequent decision to buy the technology and many thanks must go to Mrs Garmin for her contribution here for guiding me through the perils of Bristol and Soho. I have invested in European maps too, all very modestly from Mr Halford, and will soon be uploading the Vegas street-grid. My 6-year old Max insists on calling it Chav Nav.

Week Two proved to be a different kettle of fish - more people, more bridge players, more stamina. The tennis court saw regular action, the golf-course too and even the late-night poker tables of Scoppetaccio saw the rich getting richer and the poor getting wiser. Assisi had some visitors - I managed to avoid the right-turn to Rome this time around and treated myself to a whistle-stop tour. Tony and Ann shipped in wonderboy Todd from Leeds, who proved a considerable asset and will now be gently depleting his fellow students' grants in the poker dens of West Yorkshire. The wine, ever-flowing, took more of a battering and cards were a regular sight after dinner: pissed-up Pen taking on Jeroboam Jane amid a flurry of too many Notrumps and slams that needed to be bid under an assumed name. The overall standard of bridge was excellent with Pen Dobson and Laura Robarts both managing to land a particularly tricky 6H contract, while the best bid hand was a grand slam bid also by Pen Dobson leaving her partner Angel Collins in need of divine inspiration. Instead she had Perkins - who could make an Australian batsman blush at twenty yards, and her nerve was wavering. I could have stepped in and offered congratulations on a fine auction, which might have steadied her nerve - the implication then being that the slam was makeable. Grand Slams are rather like love-affairs: If you never bid one you will lead a safe but dull life and enjoy moderate riches, but if you do bid one you risk everything for the ultimate treasure. So well done for bidding it and just remember when you next play a grand slam, don't listen to the barracking from the other side, take a few deep breaths and then make a plan. The plan in any trump contract should involve counting your losers, but in a grand slam it is also worth counting your way to 13 winners. Once I am able to incorporate a bridge-hand template I will take you through the hand.

My personal triumph was not giving up smoking - I managed five days and am soon to quit again before the rigours of Las Vegas take hold. Instead it was my decision to take up running, an activity I generally detest and despise as I watch joggers hauling exhaust fumes to their pulmonary depths as they race to knacker their knees. I didn't in fact decide to take up running, but rather was compelled as I found myself wandering the Umbrian hills on paths that led away from the comforts of Calachiesa. Unwilling to leave the track - a wise decision I discovered to my cost three days later - I was already late for dinner with darkness looming. So I ran and ran and am now converted to the joys of jogging, although not on roads. This peaked for me when on the final morning I decided to take on Monte Acuto, pointed out by David on arrival. The round-trip took four and a half hours and was perhaps the most gruelling thing I have ever done and I still have the bramble scars to prove it. I am now back in training - I quit smoking again tomorrow (don't laugh) and have a month before I will be sitting down at the poker tables of Las Vegas with $10,000 of my own money - the tables have been good to me since my return.
You will be able to follow my progress on my poker site www.simonstocken.com/poker

Many thanks to you all for making the trip such fun, particularly our hosts, Tony, Ann, David and Annabel, and of course Frankie. This was in fact my first bridge holiday barring my adventure in The Caribbean but hopefully it will not be my last. I have a plan to take some bridge players to Andalucia early next year to a wonderful place, Trasierra, and would jump at the chance to return to Italy and in particular Racchiusole.

2:39 PM | Permalink |