JOHNNY SUPREMO WEIGHS UP THE EVIDENCE..................

The other day I was watching the fabulous Johnny in action. What a man ! So up comes this hand where Johnny was dealt : xxxx....xx....KQ109xxx.....(void ). His RHO opened a biggy 2C starting an auction in which The Supremo and his partner passed throughout. LHO responded 2D and 2H came back on his right. But when responder bid 3C, this caused the opener to get really excited. He launched straightaway into a 4NT blackwood enquiry, which confirmed one Ace from partner. The 7NT bid ended the auction.......with Johnny on lead. After careful deliberation came the 7 of spades ( 2nd highest from tat ) and dummy came down with : AJx....x....xxx......xxxxxx.

Declarer's hand was : Qx...AKQJxx.....A....AKQJ

Obviously, declarer had punted 7NT rather than opting to bid the unbreakable 7C. Foolish tactic against Johnny, who had of course found the only lead to beat the contract. With the clubs blocked, declarer could only make 6H, 4C, 1D and 1S for 12 tricks. Gutted and crestfallen, he sunk into a sobbing heap bemoaning the folly of seeking outright tops. So I asked Johnny, why he led a spade if favour of the more obvious King of diamonds ? His answer was if I was addressing Sherlock Holmes himself :

" Simple deduction and logic........I couldn't lead a club.....I hadn't any......And a heart lead might have put any heart honour partner had to the sword, by providing declarer with a free finesse. So my choice was between diamonds and spades. Clearly, declarer's hand was a solid two suiter in hearts and clubs, since dummy had little in the way of HCPs except for one Ace. The chances were he held only 3 cards in diamonds and spades. If my LHO holds the Ace of diamonds, then he is very likely to have nothing in spades. Despite declarer having the Ace of spades, partner might well have KQ in the suit which makes a spade lead an attractive bet. If my LHO holds the Ace of spades, a spade lead would be imperative, setting up my partner's king, not to mention taking out dummy's only entry card in the process. So two out of two scenarios for leading a spade.

If on the other hand I lead King of diamonds instead, this could well indeed take out dummy's Ace, denying declarer the opportunity to make 6 club tricks. But if it is declarer who holds the diamond Ace, then access to the clubs is guaranteed, enabling 7NT to make at a canter. This means that in total there are 3 out of 4 scenarios that forbid a diamond lead, demanding a spade instead ".

Well, who would argue against that ..................?

BRIDGE BOOKS THAT SHOCKED READERS TO THE CORE........... ( Including Pun )

• What My Partner Keeps Telling Me......................Troy R. Derman
• He Conned Me Out Of A Top.................................M. Bessler
• My Partner Ditched Me !......................................Jill Tidd
• Playing Against Experts Can Be Scary..................E. B. G. Bees
• We've Got A Lot To Catch Up, Partner..................Miles Tugo
• Now That Was Some Performance........................Heidi Clare
• Would He Challenge A TD's Ruling ?......................Woody Buggery
• We're Just Play To Have Fun.................................Honor Jollie
• This Game Really Upsets Me.................................Mike Reinhart
• This Bidding System Is Easy To See Through........Crystal Claire Waters

AN INTERVIEW WITH THE REAL HOWARD BIGOT-JOHNSON..........

Interviewer : Tell me why do you see the world of bridge as bizarre ?

RBJ : Allow me to answer the question this way..........When people look at a half-drunk glass of beer what do they see ? A glass that is half full ? Or a glass that is half empty ? Both statements reflect the truth, but each answer comes from a different perspective ......or should I say, from a different perception of what matters to them. My perception of the bridge world is of course tainted with pessimism and negative waves. Where others see only wonderment and joy, I also see frustration and sorrow. Where others only see a world full of happy, mentally stable, normal people, I see one one full of bizarre characters with all sorts of weird character traits and peculiarities.

I : But why do you see such darkness in a world, when the game itself is so enlightening , so enchanting and so beautiful ?

RBJ : A good question....but should you come across a man standing out in the open in the full glare of the sun, there is still a position from which you can only see his dark side. That of course is when you are caught in his shadow. The reality is that every bridge player has a shadow, which represents the darker side of his nature. And it is from that position where I choose to come from....... with regards to my perceptions and observations on bridge players in general.

I : But why not write more about the great and marvellous things that go on inside the bridge world.....the stuff that most people want to read about ?

RBJ : Every bridge book author and blogger ( to a man and woman ) does all this on a regular basis. Great writers who a real talent for making the game, and its celebrity characters, sound both exciting and fascinating. But I want to be different .....to operate in a niche market of my own......someone who is prepared to write from the shadows.......someone who is prepared to write about the darker side of the game in a humorous and satirical way...... which hopefully makes it a little bit more palatable. Let's face it ....many a true word is spoken in jest.......

I : So do you see the world of bridge as just simply bizarre .....or worst still..... sick and in terminal decline ?

RBJ : Given that bridge is the best game in the world, it is a tragedy that declining interest and membership numbers clearly indicate that game is dying on its feet. Its governing bodies and administrators are either blind as to causes of its demise , or blind as to the solutions that might help restore its health and popularity. The poison within the game are the players with their poisonous behaviour and attitudes. They need to be sucked out of the system and never be allowed to return. Bigot-Johnson, of course, epitomises every bit of poison that is circulating within the system.

I : Well, I never.....

RBJ : Well I guess that's the interview finished......where's my money?

I : I don't recall ever agreeing a fee ......so I'm afraid there is none

RBJ : Bugger.....

THE PERFECT PARTNER REVISITED : BIGOT-JOHNSON'S VERY OWN PERSON SPECIFICATIONS LIST

In bridge, it is so important to feel at ease with your partner. Someone you have total control over. Someone who looks up to you as the expert. A scapegoat.....eager and willing to take all the blame-shifting flak that will come his way. These are some of the basic requirements for a long lasting and workable partnership. So if you are still desperately searching for the ideal partner, here is my very own Person Specifications List which could of great benefit to you all...................

Therefore, it makes perfect sense to look for a partner with the following attributes :

1. Must have a high pain threshold

2. Must possess a seriously disturbing masochistic tendency

3. Must be of the same gender as yourself ( to avoid any accusations of sexist bullying )

4. Must be more compliant than competent

5. Must always be willing to accept you are right.....and that he is wrong

6. Must never get ideas beyond his station

7. Must recognise that bridge is more of a contact sport than a contract sport

8. Must readily accept that knocking sense into him may require the use of cudgels

9 . Must never take control of auctions : and on no account bid a major or NT ahead of you

10. Must learn to accept that your attitude is far greater than your aptitude

11. Must have a strong work ethic on improving his level of mediocrity

12. Must recognise your right as the expert to be rude and abusive

13. Must expect a gruelling after just one hand, if only to ensure your urge does not die of starvation

14. Must be acutely aware that winning is a matter of life and death.......namely his

15. Must be prepared to leave by the backdoor, when racked with depression and low self-esteem

16. Must be facially expressive, letting you in on inadvertent but crucial tells

17. Must play doomed contracts quickly in order to minimise your pain

18. Must not engage in hundreds of hours of practice ( because who wants to partner an expert loser ? )

19. Must not be a convention freak, because the road to bridge oblivion is paved with them

20. Must have all the enduring and welcoming qualities of a doormat

AN OPEN LETTER TO CARP.....................

Dear Carp,

In my bridge world, the reality is so bizarre I often feel as though I'm always being magically transported to Alice's Wonderland . As you seem the only one on this blog capable of eliciting comments from your readers, I would be very grateful if could invite readers to offer their points of view regarding this recent but true incident.

My partner and I were held accountable of a deemed hesitation. It came about when my honest partner denied hesitating, after being openly accused by one of the opponents. The TD was summoned . When I was asked about what I had seen, I told the TD I had seen nothing, as my mind was concentrating on the bidding and what I ought to do for the best. The partner of the accuser seemed unwilling perhaps fearful to offer an opinion of her own. So basically, it was one person's word against the other. Notwithstanding these facts, the TD took the view a hesitation had taken place. I needed to know how he reached this conclusion. Two reasons were given : (i) the balance of probability in favour of the accuser, in that his perception of the passing of time is more likely to be accurate than that of the alleged offender.....and (ii) a player would not claim a hesitation if one had not taken place. In other words the claim itself is prima facie evidence of a tempo infringement.

As a result, the bid I made ( shocking as it was ) was declared unacceptable because of the established hesitation. Moreover, I was told that my failure to spot my partner's delayed pass was irrelevant , because this is how the Bridge Laws work !

So there you have it. If one does not see a hesitation , which partner also denies, the TD can determine that one might well have taken place .....especially when the accuser, who also happens to be a registered TD, clearly has a better grasp of time....... plus of course the balance of probabilities going in his favour.

But what I want to know are answers to these questions :

- Can a hesitation be established if only the accuser believes a tempo infringement has occurred ?

- Can a questionable hesitation be treated as an unmistakable one ?

- What actually constitutes a break in tempo/ hesitation ?

- Do the laws make any reference to the balance of probabilities, and the presumption that the accuser has a better grasp of " real time " than the alleged offender.

Incidentally, the bidding went as follows : 1NT - Double - Redouble ( showing clubs ) - Pass ??? ( weak 6-card diamond suit ) - 2C - 2H ( flat 15 count with 4 hearts ) - 3C - 3D !!! - passed out. This went one off, but the TD substituted a 3C+1 score for the opponents.

If you, or anyone else, could shed some light on this matter I would be most grateful.

Yours Robert C. S. Jay

Dear Robert,

As I am not a qualified TD I cannot answer your questions. But it does seem peculiar that the balance of probability requirement was only applied to the question of " Can I possibly believe you ? ". If however it had been applied to the question " Would anyone else with your hand bid 2H, opposite a known passed hand ? " , then surely the answer would be not a single sole...... 0%.

If one had to bid again to force partner to bid his lowest 4 card suit, perhaps another double might have been in order. Indeed, on the balance of probability only one of 2 things can be established ; you are either ( i ) a very undisciplined maverick-type bidder , or ( ii ) completely bananas.

However, let's hope someone out there who reads your letter can offer more authoritative observations.

Yours respectfully, Carp

LAW REPORT : R v. BIGOT-JOHNSON ( AND OTHERS ) 1993

( This case came before Sheffield Crown Court followed a police raid on the Walnut Tree Allotment BC after receiving a tip-off from Percy Pantopod. Bigot-Johnson and other committee members were subsequently charged with offences under the Misuse Of Drugs Act 1971. Bigot of course elected to conduct his own defence. A short extract from the trial's transcript can be seen below. )

Prosecutor ( P ) : Were you and your fellow committee members responsible for the running and operation of the club during the period Sept 1992 to September 1993 ?

B-J : Yes....

P : And on the night of the raid were you the person in charge.....being the acting TD ?

B-J : Yes....

P : So now answer me this question : do you regard bridge as a severe addiction ?

B-J : Yes.....

P : Furthermore, do you consider that all bridge addicts get a real buzz from playing their favourite game ?

B-J : Indeed, I do....

P : Well, allow me to present the prosecution's case as I see it. You and your fellow committee members are charged with the manufacture and production of illegal drugs.

B-J : You're jigging me ? Are you completely off your head ?

P : No....this Bridge Club of yours is nothing more than a clandestine laboratory. And it appears that you have no license to manufacture controlled drugs as listed under The Misuse Of Drugs Act 1971.

B-J : You're pulling my chain ? Is this a wind-up, or what ?

P : I'm afraid not.....You recruited members to enter the premises , and under your administration and management, you induced their bodies to produce chemical drugs that gave them a real buzz. Not only that but the euphoria created by this buzz quickly transferred to others, who then also experienced their own " highs ".......as their bodies got to work. Players were experiencing " rushes " every time they picked up the cards........ but then rushing the play in order to get onto the next hand.

B-J : Well, tickle me pink....and knock me down with a feather.

P : Moreover, as the law stands, it is irrelevant if the controlled substances are produced in small amounts, or consumed immediately by the production operatives themselves. Your duplicate bridge work-outs simply created a drug-addiction culture , and the chemical dependency resulted from a process that was taking place right under their skin.

B-J : I'm flabbergasted....

P : And so you should be. You are responsible for all this body bio-chemistry at work. Indeed, their endocrine systems , which are in charge of all body processes, were working flat out. " Happy stresses " were being experienced all the time. The players, or should I say workers, became totally dependant on internal drug flows for their sense of fulfilment. Their acute addiction can only be described as dangerous and illegal.

B-J : Well, upon my soul...

P : Yes, Bigot you were the instigator of that production process on the night of the raid. And because you personally were responsible for the hand deals....many of which caused players to buzz with excitement...... you are by definition the " drug dealer " of the worst kind. Therefore, I'm sure the jury will find you, and the rest of your motley crew, guilty of all charges laid before this court.

Judge : Too damn right....

B-J : Well, I'll be buggered.....

PSYCHES, CONTROVERSY, ACCUSATIONS AND CHEATING......... ( Article by Bridgemeister Gibson )

If a psyche is a genuine bluff, which deceives all the other players at the table equally , then its legitimacy cannot be questioned. However, if psyches are part of a secret arrangement, agreement, or understanding, then they are clearly illegal, and the perpetrators should be branded as cheats.

But how does one go about dealing with situations when a regular partnership has a renown psycher in its midst. Surely experience of a psycher's style and habits might enable his/her partner to recognise the conditions in which they might well be employed. Given that psyches are most effective in certain situations that arise at the table, then it seems logical to deduce that the psycher's partner will recognise those situations, where a psyche becomes a distinct possibility. This " sense " has to be defined as " an understanding " albeit a tacit one. As a result, the opponents are put at a much greater disadvantage. So even if there is no evidence of " fielding ", the fact remains that the opponents are far more likely to be damaged by the psyche than the expectant partner.

Many years ago it was common practice for players, to make a weak response bid over the opponent's double of partner's opening bid. This created a situation where the responder had an opportunity to psyche knowing that partner might not choose to bid again.

This awkward and controversial free bid cropped up on a hand, which led to accusations of cheating against Terence Reece and Boris Schapiro ( in the 1965 international match against the Italians ). Reese held Qxx....AJxx.....Kxx.....AKQ, and opened a prepared club. North doubled and Schapiro with his J10xxx...4.....Jxx....10xxx responded 1H ! South bid 2D on his x....K10xx.....Q1098x...Jxx, only to hear Reese bid 2NT. Pass from North, followed 3C from Schapiro which ended the auction.

So many questions needed to be asked, and could be asked, about this auction :

- Did Reese know that partner's bid over the double proclaimed weakness and even dire distress, but that it might also be funny ?

- Clearly, Schapiro had two escape options ( clubs and spades ) so the heart psyche could hardly get his side into trouble. But what of the damage to the unsuspecting opponents ?

- Reese described such psyches as " baby psyches " not expected to deceive class opponents, such as Forquet and Garozzo. But what of the 2NT bid, which left the door open for Schapiro to pass now that the damage had been done ? Or did 2NT confirm a heart fit plus a strong hand......or was it a bid that wanted Schapiro to confirm the genuineness of his suit bid ?

- Was the only interest in Schapiro's bid, harmless if fatuous in itself, purely down to its possible significance in the light of the alleged finger signalling charges involving the heart suit ? If he knew that Reese had four hearts, from an illegal signal, why should he seek to deter the Italians from running into an unlucky trump break ?

- Moreover, if Reese knew Schapiro had a singleton heart, why didn't he double 2 diamonds ? As the cards lay, the penalty would have been 800.

Yet despite all these unanswered questions, I do feel that Schapiro had an ideal opportunity to try out a " baby psyche ", which Reese might well have expected ( hence his chosen definition of the term ). Moreover, his 2NT bid was an exceptionally clever one, because it covered both the possibility that the 1H bid might be genuine or not. In a sense, his understanding that the 1H could well be a bluff , he needed to find a bid to keep all options open................because otherwise, why not just jump in hearts to the 3/4 level.

It is my contention that regular psycher in a regular partnership cannot make legitimate psyches, because his partner will surely have an understanding in place, based upon his past experience and knowledge of style, frequency and relevant situational factors, where the possibility of such a bid becomes very real. Honest players who are obliged to bid will never field a psyche, but the likelihood is the psycher has picked out a situation where the opener might well pass, or is unlikely to be damaged if the auction continues. This is because the psyche is a " controlled one " in that the psycher already knows a fit exists elsewhere, which will always provide an escape.

BIGOT-JOHNSON BLOWS A GASKET................ ( Short report by Pun )

Bigot , as we all know, is immensely proud of the fact that his blog title is an original.......that he is the first person to publicise the perception that the world of bridge is bizarre. However, I unfortunately upset his cosy apple cart when I foolishly told him of a recent discovery of mine. In amongst a pile of very old books, a job lot purchase at a recent auction, I came across an unknown bridge authoress from the 1930's. She too had arrived at the same conclusion as Bigot. Indeed, this very rare priceless treasure was entitled :

The Bizarre World Of Bridge .....by.........Ann E. Malhouse

On hearing this Bigot went completely ape, which of course was perfectly in keeping with Ann's observations about the primitive behaviour displayed by most male bridge players. She perceived them as grunting, growling, chest-beating, foot-stomping, gesticulating, hairy-arsed gorillas : a description that fits Bigot to a tee.

THE GREAT PSYCHIC DEBATE................... ( Article by Bridgemeister Gibson )

The art of deception propels the game of bridge onto newer and higher levels. Deceptive bids in particular pose problems for both partners and opponents. The guile and cunning needed to use psychic bids in a most profitable way is a string which is often found on the expert's bow. However, over the years it has been the psychic opening bids that have been castigated by many players as a major source of irritation. Some regard such bids as a violation of the spirit of the game, an unsportsmanlike tactic, and at worst an unacceptable form of cheating.

A psyche is clearly defined as " a deliberate and gross misstatement of honour strength or suit length ". Obviously, a minor deviation does not constitute a psyche because gross means " gross ".

However, the one great thing about psyches is that they feature in many of the most colourful and amusing stories about bridge hands, ever to be told and published in bridge books across the world. John Collings has been immortalised by some of his brilliant and equally disastrous psyches. Yet the statistical reality shows that these high risk bluffs generate more bad scores than good ones. Like dangerous weapons they are best left to experts to use against each other in their tactical and complex bidding wars.

So to finish of the first of many articles I intend to do on this subject, I want to leave you with 3 home grown stories of successful psyches, where the perpetrator clearly had a sound tactical motive for his/her bid. Often this involves identifying the " correct conditions " in which such bids can do real damage to the opponents, yet pose little or no risk to unsuspecting partners being led astray.

The first hand was given to me by a club member, who was partnering one of Sheffield's finest. After he had passed, his LHO came in with a strong two opener. His expert partner looked at his woefully weak 7 card diamond suit to the Ace alongside his club void......and so he naturally made a 3C overcall ! This psyche was clearly designed, should the opponents reach their vulnerable game or slam, to get partner ( if ever on lead ) to play a club to secure an instant ruff. Should the 3C bid get doubled, the expert had his diamond suit to fall back on, without having to bid up a level. A brilliant manoeuvre don't you think.

Next came a story given to me by another club member who told me about a hand that cropped up on the net, when against good opposition the psycher opened 3C on a 4 card suit ! His LHO passed, but his partner ( who had nothing but a good 5 card club suit and no spades ) decided to make a psyche of his own.....by bidding 3S in an attempt to muddy the waters. Clearly, the psychic double whammy proved very successful, even though the opponents entered the bidding and eventually bought the contract at the 5 level...........ignoring in the process the chance to double 5C. Not only were the opponents in an inferior contract, but they had completely missed out on finding the easy slam.

The last story comes from a recent club duplicate with many good players in attendance. The opposition opened 1NT and my non-vulnerable partner doubled ( showing 15+ points ). However, when an honest South bid 2NT clearly indicating good values........I now looked at my K10xx....Kxx....Q109xx......x thinking just how many HCPs are there in this pack. Clearly, someone was over-stating their hand, and my bet was on partner. If he hasn't got the 15 points then he must be bidding on a long solid suit, which can only be clubs. So I bid 3C, which received a prompt double on my left. A pass from partner which I duly " alerted " to confirm my analysis of his hand. Strangely, no further bidding took place. When dummy came down with a broken 7 card club suit to the AQ, I was to say the least a little crestfallen.....if not shocked. My LHO was also taken by surprise .........so much so that with sloppy defence, I was able to make all 7 clubs plus my two precious kings, to scramble home the contract for a stunning top.

DR. JOHN : OTHER THERAPIES REVISITED

Horses for courses is what I believe in. Many bridge players may be diagnosed with the same disorder or affliction, but I have to consider what treatment each client might best respond to. Sometimes the whole therapeutic process requires a trial and error approach, but over time I have developed a 6th sense of picking the right therapy first. Anyway, the two therapies I want to review in this article have been condemned worldwide by establishment figures, but my clients swear by them........and the money they were happy to hand over is testament to their faith in my methods, and the sense of well being they have experienced afterwards.

The Dice God :

This therapeutic method first came to light in the book " The Dice Man " written by Luke Rhinehart. The main character is a psycho-analyst who believes that each individual is made up of multiple personalities. Or to put it another way, each person has multiple selves. However, it is always the case that one dominant self tends to rule the others....but at the risk of highly dangerous lapses. These unfortunate blips occur because dogged repression of the other selves leads to numerous inner conflicts, which in turn cause massive build-ups of frustration and tension. Since these conflicts never get resolved, umpteen psychological and personality disorders begin to emerge. Keeping a lid on any boiling pot is simply asking for trouble, because when the lid blows it really blows. Bridge players, of course, tend to have these explosive outbursts once inside the heated cauldron of the bridge arena. Inevitably, they succumb to " another self " which has wrestled control in a most disturbing and shocking way.

However, clients who agree to follow the teachings of " The Dice Man " immediately start to see some positive and beneficial outcomes. By allowing the other selves to be released on a controlled basis, the client can overcome their inner conflicts and deal with the root causes of their disorders. Dice therapy enables bridge players to approach the game in a calm and settled way.

Clients tend not to challenge the randomness element of their dice life, because the outcome of every dice roll is purely down to God.....and who would dare argue with him ! By assigning each self and its needs, desires and wants to a dice score, there is an equal chance of any self being put in control, albeit temporarily. Destiny of the roll will then dictate which self will have its day. So although this means a bridge player may turn up to the club as the devil incarnate, the next time might well see him as a god worshipping bible-bashing christian. With no one self ever in permanent control, the client is far more likely to play their bridge in a stable frame of mind. A routine pattern of random behaviour replaces the routine pattern of permanent abnormal behaviour. The madness and aggression, that was once brought on by the internal repression of the other selves, completely vanishes. The therapy is not about role playing : it is about being true to all one's selves.

Sweep It Under The Carpet :

This approach involves creative and imaginative thinking on the part of my bridge playing clients. Their first task is to learn that all the nasty issues........ that cause them to fall victim to a multitude of disorders, afflictions and conditions.......can be swept under the carpet for good. The whole process starts by making them go into an empty room, with dead bugs, rabbit droppings and other assorted nasties littered all over the carpet. They are then told that in order to leave the room they must get rid of all this unwanted trash. Very quickly, these brainy bridge players figure out the only way this can be done is to sweep it under the carpet. The realisation that " once the nasties are out of sight, they are also out of mind " is the all important breakthrough.

Then, of course, the therapeutic process turns to the nasties that occupy the rooms inside their minds. Now they must transfer the learning from that first physical challenge into the greater mental one........ where they simply use an imaginary brush to sweep away all their fears, anxieties and negative emotions, under the imaginary easy-to-lift-up carpets inside their minds. Again, out of sight becomes out of mind.

Some critics dismiss this therapy completely, arguing vehemently that these problems will always resurface with a vengeance.....causing the disorders to become more serious and more damaging. Not so. Because the most important element within this therapy is the client's acquired ability to use their imaginary thinking again......to either lay down even bigger carpets, or to use bigger and stronger tacks. Indeed, should any nasty try to escape from under the carpet, it can be immediately pushed back under, making sure twice as many tacks are used this time round. Indeed, magic carpets are not things you fly around on : they are the simplest solution to a bridge player's troubled mind.

DR. JOHN : MORE THERAPIES EXPOSED...........

For most bridge players the desire to win is of paramount importance, even in the less heated social arenas of the game. This desire can become so acute that any repeated experience of failures immediately triggers stronger and more negative feelings. Sadly, these manifest themselves into all sorts of personality and psychological disorders. So with a certain type of client, I often resort to one of the following two therapies:

Reality Adjustment :

In bridge it is widely accepted that the winners are those with the highest overall scores. But this is a perception that can be changed. It becomes imperative to " re-condition " their minds to accept and believe that they are always the true winners.....even if they are in the bottom half of the field ! This reality adjustment can only be done by convincing them that all those pairs who came higher are cheats. Therefore, every therapy session defines the world of bridge as a world full of cheating, deceiving, lying, unethical, unscrupulous, pathological, malevolent, evil bastards.......leaving them as the only honest ones left in the field. Once that message has been rammed home, it matters not a jot where they now come on the results list since they will always come top of the true and honest pairs who competed. The fact they may have beaten a few of the cheaters in the process is an added bonus. Nevertheless, the therapy only works best if they can avoid coming last. The problem, of course, with coming in last is that another reality adjustment suddenly dawns on them : they can't possibly call themselves winners, if they are the only competitors in a one-horse race.

For Pity's Sake Get A Grip On Yourself :

Some clients have it within themselves to " change ". This therapy requires them to overcome their problems by applying a right good dollop of will power and self-determination. In order for them to take a grip of themselves, they need to do this in a symbolic way to get the process underway. All clients therefore are given ( or should I say have to pay for ) extremely over-priced replica dolls of themselves. Then, the moment any of the symptoms linked to their disorder or affliction first surface, clients must immediately take hold of the dolls and grip them......and continue to grip as hard as they can.......until those symptoms subside. In practice a " transference " has taken place : the doll has become the client, and the client takes on the role of an exorcist. By squeezing the living daylights out of the doll, they are in fact performing a gripping act of " de-possession ", and in doing so strive to remove all the demons belonging to that disorder . Indeed, at my local club over 50% of the members carry their dolls around with them, often seen running from the tables to find quiet spots where they then get a real grip on themselves in private. Then having quickly cast aside all those symptoms which were starting to show, the doll-handlers are now in a stable condition to return to their tables as normal, considerate, peace-loving players .

DR. JOHN COMES CLEAN ABOUT HIS UNORTHODOX THERAPIES

Many people have tried to discredit my methods but the facts speak for themselves. Bridge players have been forced to seek me out with their numerous psychological, personality, and behavioural disorders, simply because previously prescribed standard techniques have all failed. Bridge players' mental health problems are often so severe that dramatic and innovative interventions are called for. My methods may be frowned upon by the medical establishment, but they do work for the majority of my clients.

So rather than keep the bridge world in the dark, I intend over the next few days to reveal the therapies which have proved so successful. They may be unorthodox....... but extreme disorders require extreme methods.

Reverse Thinking :

If clients perceive their disorders simply by looking at so called normal players, it becomes imperative to get them to perceive their shocking and alarming symptoms as " normal ". This requires them of course to perceive the characteristics of normal people to be extremely abnormal. The theory behing this method of reverse thinking is based on R.D. Laing 's claim that " a normal person lives in the strait-jacket of conformity ".

Clients, of course, are not expected to change their weirdo ways, let alone their sick thoughts, feelings and behaviour, because after lining my pocket with gold they always leave my surgery happy in the knowledge that they......and only they..... are the lucky ones. Lucky in that they are completely free of the far more serious disorders, afflictions and mental health issues that affect everyone else !

Aversion Therapy :

Some clients , who clearly possess masochistic traits, seem quite happy to consent to this rather discredited form of treatment. Contracts are drawn up with clients that permit me, on every reported display of symptoms linked to a given diagnosis, to inflict upon them some some extremely painful punishments. These may include severe thrashings, or large withdrawals from their bank accounts. The pain that my clients experience, when these punishments are venomously carried out, will always over the long term bring about forced changes in both their behaviour and thought processes. Eventually, they become so conditioned to this alternative pain free way of " being ", the disorders that previously controlled their lives are confined to the past. The fact that their lives now become controlled by me seems to be of little concern to them. This of course is good news, with essential " refresher " sessions providing a never ending inflow of funds into my pension pot.

THE DEVIL'S DICTIONARY...................

• Unseen hand : the one that hits you from behind
• Seed : a term that describes the downward path that top bridge players often go, once they cease playing the game at the highest level
• Re-entry : a common manoeuvre adopted by most oversexed players with high levels of testosterone
• Round Robin : an overly round red breasted bird who has spent too much time eating and tanning herself on sun-beds, at the expense of playing bridge
• Rusinow leads : a pathetic carding method which attempts to fool novice declarers as to the location of the higher touching honour
• Rule of 11 : no substitutes allowed
• Shaded bid : one that is made by an extremely dim and unenlightened player
• Sec0nd hand : the kind of bridge books tight-fisted, money minded bridge players look to acquire on the cheap

MUST READ BOOKS ON BIGOT-JOHNSON : HIS YEARS OF REVENGE....... ( Article by Pun )

Avid readers of this blog will know that Bigot-Johnson lived his whole childhood as an inmate of an orphanage. Abandoned by his parents, he was forced to spend many unhappy years incarcerated inside this loveless institution. Cursed with club feet, gargoyle features, and a terrible habit for bed wetting, he became an obvious target for unrelenting ridicule and abuse.

However, not long after leaving the orphanage Bigot took it upon himself to teach bridge despite his gross inexperience , and under-achievement, at the game. As chance would have it many of his tormentors found themselves in one of Bigot's beginner classes. Their shocking and unbelievable experience, where each of them was subjected to ritualised and habitual bullying, caused many to seek psychiatric help. Others felt obliged to write books about their terrible ordeal, their living nightmare, and the demonic way he set out to reek his revenge. Yes , he was determined to turn them all into accident prone nervous wrecks. So not surprisingly all their book titles share a common theme......

• Look Bigot, At What You've Gone and Made Me Do.......Jimmy Riddle
• Why Are You Ignoring Me Partner ?............................Ulrika Yurin
• Ooops, I've Made My Seat All Wet...............................Ada Slash
• Don't You Dare Aim That Thing At Me..........................Percy Ponting
• So Sorry, I Just Can't Stop Myself.................................I. P. Hallot
• Hey Bigot, Are You Taking The Piss Or What ?..............Mickey Takin
• My Seat's Soaking, But The Need Was Pressing..............Ray Leaf
• You Said Bigot That I Was Your Friend ?......................R. U. Kidding
• Look I Need To Go, I Can't Hold On Any Longer...........Mustapha Leek

BRIDGE BOOKS FOR TODAY'S EXPERTS......................... ( By Pun )

• Solid Defence Is What My Game Is Built On .......... Iona Stonehouse
• Just Lately My Bridge Brain's Gone Walkabout......Norma Leigh-Lucid
• This Appeal I'm Certain of Winning.......................Lauren Myside
• Now That was Some Bottom, Partner....................Sawyer B. Hind
• If That Rich Bitch Wants To Sponsor You..............Cesar Monet
• Sorry Partner, I Keep Pulling Out The Wrong Card...Kent C. Strait
• How To Become A Star Defender............................Jed I. Knight
• As A First Reserve Team Member, He's Pretty Limp...Willie B. Hardigan
• Cheap Accommodation Tips For The Brighton Congress...Cara Van
• I Am A Walking Bridge Encyclopedia.....................Noah Lott

LAW REPORT : SMALL v. BIGOT-JOHNSON ( 1994 )

( Buried away in the Law Reports one might unearth this very obscure and unusual case. This involved one of Bigot's earliest partners, who decided to sue Bigot for damages under the heading of actionable nuisance. This law of tort test case received little publicity, but the precedent that it set should serve as a stark warning for all bridge players who have become too big for their boots . Bigot, of course, elected to defend himself, as seen from this extract from the trial's transcript. )

Counsel for the Plaintiff ( CP ) : Bigot, would you please tell the court how long you and Small have been partners, having been paired together for the club's A-team

B-J : About 4 months...... ever since that ridiculous captain thought it would be a good idea to put us together......What a plonker !

CP : Hmmm...but are aware of the tort of private nuisance in English law ?

B-J : No....and that's because I'm a bridge player.....and not a namby pamby lawyer

CP : Well, allow me to fill you in......A private nuisance can be established when the actions of the defendant cause a substantial and unreasonable interference with the claimant's use or enjoyment of the land he or she is occupying.

B-J : How the blue blazes has any of this got to do with playing bridge ?

CP : I'm glad you asked that question. As a bridge player you are obliged to pay table money. This entitles one to occupy a particular seat or place at the table. Small , who nearly always took up the South seat , became the paid-up lawful occupier of that tiny piece of land....... on that side of the table. For the time he sat there, his rights under nuisance law entitled him to the quiet, peaceful enjoyment of that land.......which I might add includes a right to light.

B-J : This is a load of poppycock. What has " light " got to do with us playing together in a team's match ?

CP : Ahh.....I knew you would ask that question. You see....the "right to light " has been an established part of English law for the last four centuries. Every occupier of land has a right to natural light, which can enforced against those who attempt to block it out by physical means.

B-J : But how can I be blocking any one's light out..... when we are in a room full of windows, and with ceiling lights all switched on ?

CP : The crux of my argument is this. You Bigot-Johnson were forever keeping Small in the dark , with your off-centre and anti-system bids.....not to mention a whole barrage of psyches and shaded overcalls. On no occasion did you shed any light on what these bids were supposed to mean. You constantly over-shadowed Small with your gross pomposity, inflated ego, and overwhelming arrogance.

B-J : Oh dear....

CP : Moreover your complaints to the captain about Small's inadequacies cast a real shadow over both his credentials and reputation as a competent bridge player.

B-J : Is that it.......?

CP : No..... you were forever putting Small in the shade. So much so..... you are guilty without a shadow of doubt of giving Small a psychological disorder, known as The Mushroom Complex...

B-J : What's that ?

CP : Feelings of being kept in the dark and fed on bullshit. In my mind Bigot, you are made up of different personalities all of which are shades of the devil himself. Never can a more shady character exist in the world of bridge than you. The shadow you cast around you is one of moral darkness and gloom.

B-J : That bad ?

CP : Yes....when Small teamed up with you ......for him it was like taking a leap in the dark. His time with you were the darkest hours of his life. Never again should you be allowed to darken his door. Never has a man been so deprived of " light ", so much so that his bridge experience with you was one destined never to be enlightening.....never to be enjoyable. But now comes the time Bigot for you to face your darkest hour, when the judge decides.....as I know he will......on what damages to impose upon one of biggest nuisances I have ever come across....

Judge : Too right !

B-J : Ooops ......

Judge : Yes......having reduced poor Small to a shadow of his former-self, I can only conclude that you Bigot are a monstrosity of a human being......an unmovable mountain.......a permanent eyesore on the bridge scene.....a nuisance of the highest order. And irrespective of my stretching the interpretation of the law a tad too far, I am awarding Small £20,000 in damages....so there

B-J : Bugger.....

REBECCA ROOD : AGONY AUNT

Rebecca Rood here again.....the blog's now world famous Agony Aunt...... at your beck and call to put you right on some of your gaffes at the bridge table , and in no uncertain terms I might add. I call a spade a spade, and a dimwit a complete buffoon.

So if you have dropped a clanger be bold.....tell the world....and then you can rid yourself of the demons of shame and guilt, to stand tall and upright once again, and start the game afresh. Indeed, you only have to read my latest correspondence to see what I mean. Here we have an ordinary....... a very ordinary player by the sounds of it....who wrote to me bemoaning her fate, when she went off in a rigid, you could throw-it-at-the-wall, rock-solid, ice-cold, routine bog standard contract, even my 6 year old daughter could have made.

Dear Rebecca,

I cannot for the life of me figure out where I went wrong. I thought at the time my logic and reasoning were perfectly sound, and that I was the victim of an astute defender's very clever and deceptive trap. The hand in question is as follows :

North : K954....Q875......KQ......AQ5

South : AQ2.....J9632.....63....1082

West : J86....A10....J10954 .....K93

East : 1073....K4.....A872.....J764

The uncontested auction went : 1C ( prepared )- 1H-3H-4H

Personally, I didn't like his 3H bid one bit, for I would have preferred a 2H response on such a motley 16 count. Naturally I went to game not one for declining an invitation . West led a diamond which East won with the Ace. Continuing with diamonds I took the trick in dummy to consider the best way of playing the trump suit. So I lead the queen of hearts from dummy, feeling incredibly smug when the King appeared on my right, with the stiff Ace falling on my left ? West then retuned a club, which I could afford to duck, and so I wasn't too upset when I lost the trick to East's jack. Again East switched, but this time to a spade, which I elected to win in dummy with the King for the marked heart finesse. Oops....my nine lost to West's 10 and the contract was 1 off.

Was my play really that bad, or was I outsmarted by a superior player ? I welcome with some trepidation your comments.

Yours Still Very Perplexed

Dear SVP,

That was a truly harrowing tale. As clangers go this one belongs in the Hall of shame, with 10 tricks there for the taking ( 3H,4S, 1D and 2C ).

Firstly, let us consider the bidding, and I must agree with you, North might have been wiser to bid a conservative 2H, but what staggers me is your stretch to game.......which in my opinion showed an unjustifiable faith in your ability to play the cards.

As for the play, then running the heart queen from dummy only works if you trap the singleton 10. What you needed to guard against was a singleton King or Ace, which was twice as likely. Therefore, the correct line is to lead low to the 8 or 9. The contract was clearly a poor one, but once you were given an opportunity to make 11 tricks, your 9 trick haul quite rightly exposed you as a fool.

For pity's sake, did you not notice the complete absence of any sign of annoyance from West when he won with the heart Ace ? You showed about as much table presence as an oversized cabbage. Moreover, it was patently obvious that the finesse of the club queen was always a requirement for the contract to make. So why not play the jack of hearts and let the defence take their trump trick.

West deserves some credit, because he knew the club finesse was on, as well as the 3-3 spade break. But you needed to kep your eye on the ball. Why not join all those other players who only faced 2 heart losers and 1 diamond loser.

I despair at your gullibility and incompetence. Yours Thoroughly Rood.

ps. I would recommend you to read my latest book entitled " Hoisted on your own petard is what comes of being too clever ".

THE DEVIL'S DICTIONARY.........................

• Outstanding trump : an imminent explosion of methane gas
• Master trump : an explosion so loud and so long, it is impossible for any other player at the table to beat it, irrespective of how many spicy baked beans they may have eaten hours earlier
• Trump reduction : a rare and unusual manoeuvre in which declarer uses up his little trumps to ruff out dummy's winners . This helps to reduce the embarrassment of allowing a defender to succeed in making a trump of his own.
• Dummy : a dead, lifeless, transparent, plastic type of player, often the subject of derision because of his inflated ego, his ability to spout hot air, and his undoubted capacity to blow up at any time
• Flier : ( i) a huge jump bid to game that gambling players might resort to, or (ii ) a weighty object, such as the aerodynamically designed bridgemate, which is often seen whizzing through the air prior to making a sudden and painful crash landing

LAW REPORT : WHITTLE v. BIGOT-JOHNSON ( 2010 )

( In a truly unforgettable case , one of Bigot-Johnson's stand-by partners felt obliged to bring a private prosecution against him, alleging that he was the victim of a psychological assault. This was a crime supposedly covered by The Offences Against The Persons Act. Here below is an extract from the trial's transcript, which reveals the full horror of the accused's clearly dreadful and shocking behaviour.)

W : I put it to this court that you Bigot are guilty of an assault......

B-J : Wait a mo....I never hit or threatened to hit you once

W : That is not a relevant point. The fundamental requirement of assault is that the victim ( who I might add was me I ) had been put into a state of fear. And this can easily be done by means of psychological attacks.

B-J : Excuse me Whittle.....the context for claims of psychological assault relate only to domestic violence, rows between married or cohabiting couples

W : Well....were you and I cohabiting the same tables throughout the whole evening ?

B-J : Yes....

W : And did you regard me at that time as " your partner " ?

B-J : Yes...

W : Then that clears up that requirement.......

B-J : But how can I be accused of instilling fear upon you......when someone as feeble minded as you is so fearful by nature....... a pathetic wimp riddled with fear" . Surely then, it is an impossible feat to instill fear into someone ....like you..... who oozes fear from every pore ?

W : May be so....but it was the level of my fear which became intensified when you launched your attacks

B-J : But has it not come to your attention that many bridge players display aggression towards their partners ?

W : Oh please.....do give the court some examples.....

B-J : Well, there's.......dishing out insults, going into major sulks and tantrums, refusing to talk to partner, stomping out the room to cool down, saying things to spite partner, banging one's hands 0r head on the table, and showing displeasure by means of exaggerated gestures and facial expressions. You know....the usual things.....

W : Yes....but taken together they provide an all encompassing context of violence. Your actions were a systematic attempt to convert psychological violence into a lethal weapon.

B-J : But hold on there....all of this stuff was meant and intended to be taken as " a joke "

W : That maybe your limp excuse which you now choose to hide behind.....but to all those who were there that night your actions were far more sinister.... all loaded with menace. I have dozens of witnesses to back this up.

B-J : You are stretching the law too far. Bridge clubs are no more than boxing arenas. You know that once you enter the ring, you're in for a fight. You know your opponents are going to throw punches and inflict a great deal of pain. So....in the same way a boxer consents to be hit, bridge players consent to the " psychological damage " that may come their way.

W : Not so.....your analogy is flawed in two respects. Firstly, I was not your opponent, but your ally and partner. Therefore, I did not consent to be the target of your aggression and anger. Secondly, being hit during a boxing match is, if punches are thrown fairly ....an acceptable consequence, which falls within the rules of the game. However, your assaults all fell outside the rules of best behaviour at bridge....and therefore were completely unacceptable.

B-J : You little silver-tongued toad-faced smart arse ........

Judge : Enough of that....I'll have no psychological assaults taking place in this courtroom

W: Too late......he's done it again.......he's started an irreversible process......arhhh......I'm turning......yes....I'm turning into an emotional cripple and nervous wreck.........I want my mummy.......I want my mummy.......where's Dr. John......I need him........ his little pills and calming words........what are all these rainbow coloured elephants doing here ?.....where have all these banana people come from ?...........tell mummy to bring my pinkie with her.....will daddy read me a bedtime story ?

Judge : Get this poor sad blithering idiot out of here . I have no choice but to bring this trial to an end. Bigot...you are free to go. Have you anything you would like to say to this court before you leave ?

B-J : Well, I'll be buggered..............

SURELY THAT RULING CAN'T BE RIGHT ?................ ( Article by Carp )

Yesterday at the club I met up with my regular partner ( a decent fellow who rarely complains ) , who was especially keen to hear my views about a particular incident that took place the night before. This was his story :

" Mid-way through the session we had the misfortune of having to play three boards against two rather unsavoury characters, one in particular renown for his abrasive nature and acerbic wit. On board 14, I opened 1H, and with no interference bidding from our opponents the bidding proceeded as follows: 3C ( forcing agreeing hearts) -3S (showing extra strength) -5H ( an overstatement for sure ) - Pass. West, the nasty one, led out the king of diamonds, which I took in hand with the Ace. But on cashing my A/K of hearts I discovered West was sitting there with 4 hearts to the 10. So now I played a low spade over towards dummy's QJx, only to see West hop up with the Ace like it was a stiff. He then continued with the queen of diamonds which I had to ruff in dummy. At this point I paused to reflect, for prospects of steering this contract home looked bleak. Dummy had come down with QJx....Jxxx.....x......AKxxx, opposite my Kxxx...AKQ9....A10x...84. While I pondered over what to do next, West's sarcastic-laden voice boomed out " what on God's earth can you be thinking about ? " . My instinctive and honest answer was " how many tricks this contract might possibly go down by ". Finally, I decided to play the queen of spades, which West gleefully ruffed, before continuing the force in diamonds. Using my last trump in dummy to ruff his diamond jack, I played out A/K of clubs, and with the suit breaking 3-3, I was able to ruff the third round, draw West's last trump, hop over to dummy's jack of spades, and claim the contract.

The crestfallen West knew he had dropped a bollock by ruffing the spade queen. Discarding a club would have been the killing defence, because he could then ruff the Jack of spades which would have followed next. Now he could a play diamond for dummy to ruff. Because this time on the play of the clubs he ends up making his 10 of hearts no matter what I do. But typical of this man..... he calls for his saviour, the TD, claiming that my remark had somehow influenced him to ruff spades early.......something he would not done if he suspected this was a makeable contract after all. The TD agreed and substituted a score 5h-1. "

Well, I was flabbergasted. If that was a judgement ruling, then it was naff. In my view there were several points the TD needed to consider :

1. Why did West make such a unwarranted and sarcastic comment ? In my mind it was solely to break up declarer's concentration and focus. When a player clearly has a problem , it is completely out of order to sabotage his thought process.

2. Declarer's reply was a genuine confession based on his sound analysis that the contract was far from secure.

3. West's quick and immediate ruff of the spade queen was in keeping with his impulsive nature and manner of play.

4. If West was arguing that declarer's comment had lulled him into a casual and complacent approach towards his defence ( given he was assured the contract was doomed ).....then this flies in the face of competent defending in that West should be looking at all times to inflict the maximum damage possible......or at least to make certain the contract goes down.

There can be no doubt about the TD copping out, being too frightened to challenge or upset a player, who belongs to his favoured clique. In this instance, cowardice and prejudice had a far greater impact on his judgement ruling than justice and fair play.

Is it not time therefore to insist that all TD training courses have classes on " assertiveness ", whereby trainees must demonstrate both an ability to be impartial and assertive, before they can be considered for taking up such posts ?

Does anybody out there agree ?