AVOIDING THE GONG

  Dick Cummings (Australia)

Richard John Cummings of Sydney, Australia, bridge writer, teacher, WBF World Life Master. One of Australia’s greatest players. Cummings had a long and successful partnership with Tim Seres. They helped Australia finish 3^rd in the Bermuda Bowl in 1971 and 1979, and represented Australia on many other international occasions. He has won more than twenty national titles, in teams and pairs. He is the bridge columnist for the Sunday Morning Herald and the Sydney Sun-Herald, and edits World Bridge Federation News. He contributes to Australia Bridge and World Championship bulletins, and is a member of the WBF Appeals Committee. Won Bols Brilliancy player prize 1980.

   Dick Cummings wrote a fine anecdote and certainly his tip deserved a higher ranking. ‘Very important for the average player’, several members reacted, ‘and moreover a nice piece of history, completely new for almost everyone.’

   The author criticised the Bols-committee. ‘We have been instructed to submit a tip with only one diagram and not more than 800 words. It is very difficult to explain an item with only one example. Looking at these tips you will see hat many contributors did not deserve this instruction.’

   Dick Cummings played ten times for Australia at World Championships and Olympiads and he was also very successful in national championships. He is a bridge-professional who, as a teacher, worked very hard in order to make bridge more popular in Australia. Dick Cummings is also an excellent writer who contributes to many magazines.

   It is typical that the majority of his colleagues in this competition found the article the best one. ‘Because of the crystal-clear explanation of the principle’, they said.  

Most people can recall some pleasant turning point in their lives. For this tipster, a maiden overseas trip to Europe in 1958 was partnering Tim Seres was such an occasion.

   The timing was good. Basing ourselves in London during a vintage period for British bridge, we were fortunate to know players of the calibre of Adam (Plum) Meredith and Pedro Juan. To this day, Tim rates Meredith the most knowledgeable player of his acquaintance.

   At that time, Juan was hosting a unique series of sessions at Lederer’s Club called ‘The Coffee House’. Its format was broadly this: Four promising players would be invited to come along for a night’s bridge at the club. Juan was master of ceremonies, co-opting a panel of experts who gave their time simply because they enjoyed the concept. He concept of ‘Gong Play’….

  The guests occupied the four playing seats. Behind each player was an appointed expert, wielding a little brass bell. Randomly-dealt hands would be bid and played normally. The twist was that, whenever an expert considered his charge had made a mistake, he would ring the bell. ‘Gong’ were noted by the M.C. but not discussed until the conclusion of play. (Nearly all related to play and defence. A bid had to be atrocious to be punished.) Each deal was followed by a debate on the gongs, chaired by Juan, all present being welcome to contribute. Yes, it was a democracy. Having been gonged, you had the right to defend yourself. If the gong was upheld the guest was find two shillings. If the gong was dismissed the expert was fined the same amount. All proceeds went to charity. Some nights the charity did quite nicely, even at two bob a time.

   The most vivid memory of the Coffee House is the very favourable effect it had on a group’s card perception. If you led or signalled with the wrong spot, the gong would come, as night follows day. Holding bells in their hand, Terence Reese, Nico Gardiner, Plum Meredith, Leslie Dodds and company were merciless. Naturally, those guests that could cope with their egos being bruised improved sharply. John Collins, a fellow invitee in 1958, will be happy to verify that. Which brings me to my Bols tip: In defence, when leading a new suit mid-hand, be careful to show attitude with your choice of spot cards.

   This is an area where the average defender makes many errors. Players are advised to work hard on developing an acute sense of spot consciousness. The Coffee House was a great fillip in that direction. Fear of the gong just worked wonders for your concentration.

   Here is an example from a duplicate event.

Dealer South

East-West vulnerable

The bidding:

                        South                      West                        North                       West

                                1NT                        Pass                         3NT                        Pass

                                Pass                         Pass

Opening lead: the Spade four-five-jack-king.

   Declarer overtakes the jack of Diamonds with the queen, East furnishing the seven, then finesses the queen of Clubs to the three, four and king.

   Trick one marks South with the ace of Spades (True, occasionally, when West is short of entries, it is right for East to play the jack from A J x in third seat. That cannot be the case here). The next two tricks give a pretty fair picture of the minor-suit layout. A thinking West can diagnose the necessity to attack hearts. It is nearly certain East has the ace. Accordingly, our West does switch to the two of hearts and is delighted to see partner’s ace hit the table. The Lord has smiled again.

   Alas, pleasure quickly turns to pain. East returns a spade! Declarer claims the balance for plus 460.

   What happened? In a nutshell, East ignored the basics of mid-hand attitude leads. Partner’s switch to a small card, in this case the two of hearts, asks for the return of the new suit. A switch to a big card says: ‘Don’t play back this suit, return my original suit or try something else’.

   To reinforce the point, let’s change the hand somewhat:

. 

Now the correct card in hearts to lead is the eight. It mans: ‘Don’t send this one back please.’ East gets the message and switches to a spade. Bob’s your uncle.

   So, the next time you are in danger of being lazy about your own spot lead, or about reading a card from your partner, pause awhile. Try to imagine the distinguished figure of Plum Meredith poised over the chair, gong in hand. That should help you do the right thing.