With a packed bridge schedule in Bermuda in the coming days, this week we feature details of the schedule for the Bermuda Regional and Beginners Bridge sessions.

As a result, there is not much room for the hand today, so I am going to present it as a quiz and give you the answer next week. I am even going to show you all four hands!

Hint – concentrate on the spot cards (see Figure 1).

After North opened one heart, South ended up as declarer in 3NT.

West leads the King of spades – you hold up, and when East pitches a diamond on the spade continuation you win the Ace – over to you!

***

The Bermuda Regional 2024 is finally here – welcome to all our guests and local players who can look forward to a great week of bridge and social events.

The tournament chairwoman is Rachael Gosling and our sponsors are: Bermuda Department of Tourism, IGI Insurance, Gorham’s, Gosling's, Butterfield & Vallis, BGA and Tops.

A big thanks to all of these without whom the event could not be held. Thanks also to Tim Morrison and his team at the Hamilton Princess & Beach Club who have worked with us to get this event back on the calendar.

Here is the full schedule:

Saturday, January 27

8.15pm

The Ernie Owen Memorial Stratified Charity Pairs or 99er Game (0-99 Masterpoints)

Sunday, January 28

9.30am

Swiss Teams 1, session one of two

Open Side Game – Pembroke Series, session one of three

99er Game (0-99 Masterpoints)

2pm

Championship Bracketed Round-Robin Teams, session one of two

Open Side Game – Pembroke Series, session two of three

99er Game (0-99 points)

8.15pm

Championship Bracketed Round-Robin Teams, session two of two

Open Side Game – Pembroke Series, session three of three

99er Game (0-99 points)

Monday, January 29

9.30am

Swiss Teams 1, session two of two

Open Side Game – Paget Series, session one of three

99er Game (0-99 points)

1pm

Expert Panel Show with David Ezekiel

2pm

Gorham’s Championship Bracketed KO Teams, session one of four

Stratiflighted Pairs AX/BCD, session one of two

Open Side Game – Paget Series, session two of three

99er Game (0-99 points)

8.15pm

Alan Douglas Memorial Championship Stratiflighted Pairs AX/BCD, session one of two

Gosling’s Bermuda Gold Pairs 1 – 0-750 points, session one of two

Open Side Game – Paget Series, session three of three

99er Game (0-99 points)

Tuesday, January 30

9.30am

Open Side Game – Warwick Series, session one of three

99er Game (0-99 points)

2pm

Gorham’s Championship Bracketed KO Teams, session two of four

Stratiflighted Pairs AX/BCD, session two of two

Open Side Game – Warwick Series, session two of three

99er Game (0-99 points)

8.15pm

Alan Douglas Memorial Championship Stratiflighted Pairs AX/BC, session two of two

Gosling’s Bermuda Gold Pairs 1 – 0-750 points, session two of two

Open Side Game – Warwick Series, session three of three

99er Game (0-99 points)

Wednesday, January 31

9.30am

Championship Stratiflighted Pairs AX/BCD, session one of two

Bermuda Gold Pairs 2- 0-750 points, session one of two

Open Side Game – Devonshire Series, session one of three

99er Game (0-99 points)

1pm

Expert Panel Show with David Ezekiel

2pm

Gorham’s Championship Bracketed KO Teams, session three of four

Swiss Teams 2, session one of two

Stratiflighted Pairs AX/BC, session one of two

Open Side Game – Hamilton Series, session one of three

99er Game (0-99 points)

Thursday, February 1

9.30am

Championship Stratiflighted Pairs AX/BCD, session two of two

Bermuda Gold Pairs 2 – 0-750 points, session two of two

Open Side Game – Devonshire Series, session two of three

99er Game (0-99 points)

1pm

Bridge Lecture by expert Richard Todd

2pm

Gorham’s Championship Bracketed KO Teams, session four of four

Swiss Teams 2, session two of two

Stratiflighted Pairs AX/BC, session two of two

Open Side Game – Hamilton Series, session two of three

99er Game (0-99 points)

Friday, February 2

9.30am

IGI Championship Stratiflighted Swiss Teams, session one of two

Open Side Game – Devonshire Series, session three of three

99er Game (0-99 points)

2pm

IGI Championship Stratiflighted Swiss Teams, session two of two

Open Side Game – Hamilton Series, session three of three

99er Game (0-99 points)

6.30pm

Cocktails followed by banquet and prize-giving

See you there!

***

I also wrote last week about the return of the Beginners Bridge lessons which will start on Monday, February 19 at the Bridge Club, 7 Pomander Road, Paget. The road is the first left after Aberfeldy Nursery, when heading towards Hamilton. The lessons will be given by Des and Tracy Nash, assisted by Steve Cosham.

Anyone who wants to learn how to play bridge, while making friends and having fun, is welcome.

Sessions will be on Mondays, starting February 19, from 7pm to 9pm. The cost is $100 for the course of 20 lessons.

There will be video back-up available for missed lessons. This course is suitable for absolute beginners!

To sign up, or for more information e-mail lessons@bermudabridge.com or visit www.bermudabridge.com

• David Ezekiel can be reached at davidezekiel999@gmail.com