tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71101961810361528362024-02-18T17:56:13.256-08:00The Most Beautiful GameBernard Marcouxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01266926093375033789noreply@blogger.comBlogger51125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110196181036152836.post-12903040949995595152019-01-25T01:30:00.001-08:002019-01-25T01:30:58.472-08:00Don’t disappoint partnerWhy do you play bridge? Or what do you like at bridge?<br />
<br />
I know the answer to the last question: you like to have points.
You like to play the contract. When you don’t have points, you lose interest.
And if you have a series of bad hands, you start to complain. So when this hand arrives, first seat, you are out of concentration.
<br />
<br />
<iframe height="120" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?sn=You&s=SQXHXXXDXXXXCJXXX&" width="150"></iframe><br />
<br />
Obviously, partner chooses this moment to open 2♣.<br />
<br />
<iframe height="120" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?d=s&v=b&a=PP2CP2D" width="150"></iframe><br />
<br />
You put your bid on the table carelessly, everyone can guess you've got nothing. Bad, bad!<br />
<br />
<iframe height="120" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?d=s&v=b&a=PP2CP2DP2SP2N" width="150"></iframe><br />
<br />
You and your partner didn't discuss follow-ups to 2<span style="color: red;">♦</span>.
You should have, but you don’t like it when it becomes complicated.
You don’t have a spade fit, you have 3 points, you can’t pass 2♠, so you bid 2NT.<br />
<br />
<iframe height="120" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?d=s&v=b&a=PP2CP2DP2SP2NP3HP?" width="150"></iframe><br />
<br />
Partner continues to torture you with 3<span style="color: red;">♥</span>. What do you do?<br />
<br />
Well, you have to decide. Are you a bridge player or not? Are you
still grouchy about your last 2 or 3 bad hands? Do you see only your
own hand? Are you going to rebid 3NT because you don't care?
Do you still think this hand is BAD?<br />
<br />
Don't forget you're in a PARTNERSHIP. Is there anything you can do to HELP partner? Can you tell him something that could maybe be music to his ears? Look at your hand calmly and think.<br />
<br />
Partner has a strong hand with at least 5♠ and 4<span style="color: red;">♥</span>. What are the most
important words in the last sentence?<br />
<br />
Those words are AT LEAST. Partner has AT LEAST 5♠. If he has 6♠, your
Qx would be very nice for him, right? How can you learn about that?
Why would you want to learn? Why not TELL him something?
Do you see?<br />
<br />
Your 2NT rebid already denied a fit. I hope you would not have rebid
2NT if you had 3 cards in spades. Some masterminds holding 3334 would do that.
That would be very bad, and very unpartnershiplike. I know this is not a word :). <br />
<br />
SUPPORT WITH SUPPORT, said a world champion.<br />
<br />
2NT said: Sorry, partner, I don’t have 3 cards in spades. Good bid from you.
But now, what can you bid?<br />
<br />
Do you think that Qx in spades is nice? I think so. But I have only 3 points, you say.<br />
<br />
Stop thinking only about you, think about PARTNERSHIP. You have to imagine
partner’s hand. Could he have 6♠? He could. Even if he has only 5♠ like
AKJxx, your Queen is gold.<br />
<br />
So tell him the good news: 3♠! Partner, I have Hx in spades.<br />
<br />
<iframe height="120" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?d=s&v=b&a=PP2CP2DP2SP2NP3HP3S!P4NP" width="150"></iframe><br />
<br />
Partner jumps straight to 4NT. <br />
<br />
Is he crazy? Didn't I tell him I have nothing? You start to regret your 3♠.
Why is he asking me for controls when he knows I have nothing? Because it is
the only way for him to verify that your 3♠ bid was showing the Queen.<br />
<br />
<iframe height="120" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?d=s&v=b&a=PP2CP2DP2SP2NP3HP3S!P4NP5D(0-3)P5H(Queen?)P5N(Yes!)P6SP" width="150"></iframe><br />
<br />
The 2 hands.<br />
<br />
<iframe height="220" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?sn=You&s=SQXHXXXDXXXXCJXXX&nn=Partner&n=SAKXXXXHAKQJXDAC9&d=s&v=b&" width="150"></iframe><br />
<br />
Spades break, a nice small slam with 23 points. If spades broke 4-1,
that would be very cruel after this brilliant bid of 3♠ from you :).<br />
<br />
You may be disappointed with your hand, especially after 2 or 3 in a row. <br />
<br />
<b>But remember:</b> bridge is a democratic game. All players in your seat will
have the same cards. So stop complaining.<br />
<br />
One thing is certain: you should never disappoint partner by being lazy or sloppy.
Even more: beware if that partner is your wife :).
Bernard Marcouxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01266926093375033789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110196181036152836.post-90562755604274104042017-04-02T12:00:00.004-07:002017-04-02T12:00:55.807-07:00Bridge is a simple (Cats') gameGrisabel (Grizabella) is the main character of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cats_%28musical%29" target="_blank">Cats</a>, the unforgettable musical by
Andrew Lloyd Webber. She sings the most recognizable of all songs, <i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-L6rEm0rnY" target="_blank">Memory</a>,</i> where she
remembers her youth: <i>I was beautiful then,</i> she
laments.<br />
<br />
You play 6<span style="color: red;">♥</span>.<br />
<br />
Take your time so you don't lament: <i>I should have thought
about it.</i><br />
<br />
<iframe height="200" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?sn=Declarer&s=SAHAQ9876D2CAQ1032&nn=Dummy&n=SQJ1098HK54DAK5C76" width="120"></iframe><br />
<br />
Lead is <span style="color: red;">♦</span>J. How do
you play ?<br />
<br />
My partner, BBOer <span style="font-weight: bold;">Grisabel</span>
from Umbria made short work of the hand, proving bridge is a very
simple game for a cat.<br />
<br />
Just count your tricks: 6 hearts, 2 diamonds, 1 club = 9. You need 3
other tricks. Where can you find them?<br />
<br />
Look at the spade spots in dummy. Once the King is out, you have 4
spade tricks available, but you need only 3 spade tricks for 12 tricks.
How do you establish the spades?<br />
<br />
Grisabel took the lead with the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>Ace,
played immediately the <span style="color: red;">♦</span>King
and discarded the... ♠Ace<br />
<br />
She then ran the ♠Queen, discarding a club, taken by LHO. <br />
<br />
Claim!‼ No lament.
<br />
<br />Bernard Marcouxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01266926093375033789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110196181036152836.post-84262437326950218692017-04-02T11:59:00.003-07:002017-04-02T11:59:18.640-07:00Imagination is more important than knowledge"Imagination is more
important than knowledge," said Einstein. <br />
<br />
This hand occurred on BBO in a JEC match last week. You have:
<br />
<br />
<iframe height="100" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?sn=You&s=SQxxHAKxxDAJCKQxx" width="120"></iframe><br />
<br />
And see (not hear!) partner open... 1♣. <br />
<br />
<iframe height="100" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?sn=You&d=n&v=o&b=1&a=1CP1HP1SP?" width="120"></iframe><br />
<br />
You play Walsh, so you know partner has 5 clubs and 4 spades (in some
rare instances, partner could have 44). How
convenient! You envision a club slam. <br />
<br />
Do you jump to KCB? No. Control your emotions. Take your
time.<br />
<br />
You play XYZ where 2<span style="color: red;">♦</span>
is GF. Here it coincides with 4th suit forcing, more classical.<br />
<br />
<iframe height="100" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?sn=You&d=n&v=o&b=1&a=1CP1HP1SP2D(XYZ,+GF)P3Dp?" width="120"></iframe><br />
<br />
You know (almost) everything about partner's distribution: 4 spades, at
most 1 heart, at least 3 diamonds and at least 5 clubs.
Partner cannot have 4144, he would have opened 1<span style="color: red;">♦</span>.<br />
<br />
Now, if you want to play a slam in clubs, you have to set
trumps. So you have to bid 4♣.<br />
<br />
But wait!<br />
<br />
You have to ask yourself: who should ask for keycards?
Partner, or you? This is very important. Who will
benefit more from asking? Who can extract the maximum
information from KCB? You know you have the KQ of trumps, so
that Q is not critical anymore.<br />
<br />
Here, if your partner goes KCB, he will know about your Aces and King
and Queen of trumps, he will be able to ask if you have the K of heart,
but not the spade Queen, which could be the most precious card in your
hand if he has AK. The spade Q is maybe the 13th
trick. Unless you play exotic asking bids, which happen at
very high level. You have discussed sometimes about those
rare birds, but never seriously sat down to establish a FIRM
understanding of that machinery.<br />
<br />
So you say to yourself: I have to ask for keycards. But wait ‼<br />
<br />
If you go 4NT, will partner know you are asking with clubs as
trumps? No. Hum…! What now?<br />
<br />
The more you think, the less you<span style="font-style: italic;">
know </span>how to go about this business.<br />
<br />
How can I set trumps and not let partner ask for keycards?
You have to go KCB yourself, before he does.<br />
<br />
Think again.<br />
<br />
What do you want to know? You want to know if partner has the
Ace of clubs and AK of spades. That would make 12 tricks with
a spade ruff if necessary. But if partner has the K of
diamonds, that would make 13. Do you see the light dawning a
bit in your brains?<br />
<br />
<span style="font-style: italic;">Imagination is more
important than knowledge</span> chimes into your head, and you
see Einstein sticking his tongue out, laughing at you.<br />
<br />
In your twisted mind, so much that you can feel your head spinning a
bit, you formulate what appears to be a heresy: if I go KCB
for diamonds, what will happen? You never tried to set a
false trump suit to gain critical information from your
partner? Well, you are missing the thrill of your
life. Obviously, partner has to have confidence in you when
you will drive him to a grand in a suit he never knew you had a fit.<br />
<br />
So here goes: if you go KCB, partner will think diamonds are
trumps (agreed trump suit or last suit bid) and he will answer.<br />
<br />
<br />
<iframe height="100" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?sn=You&d=n&v=o&b=1&a=1CP1HP1SP2D(XYZ,+GF)P3DP4H(Kickback+with+diamonds+as+trump)P4N(2nd+step:+03)" width="120"></iframe><br />
<br />
With Kickback KCB, the suit above our trump suit at the 4 level is
KCB. So you have the same space as 4NT with spades as trump.<br />
<br />
But wait, you say. This 4<span style="color: red;">♥</span>
bid cannot be to play? No. In XYZ, responder with
long hearts and goodish hand could jump to 4<span style="color: red;">♥</span>
to play over 1♠. And he would jump to 3<span style="color: red;">♥</span> over 1♠ to show solid
hearts and slam interest. And if he has long broken hearts
with GF, he would bid 3<span style="color: red;">♥</span>
over 3<span style="color: red;">♦</span>.<br />
<br />
4NT says 03 (I know, I know, partner could have KJxx Q
KQx Jxxxx and bid the same. Aren't you a party
pooper?). So partner rates to have the 2 black Aces and… the
K of trumps (!), diamonds. Your mind is racing.
Calm down.<br />
<br />
<iframe height="100" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?sn=You&d=n&v=o&a=1CP1HP1SP2D(XYZ,+GF)P3DP4H(Kickback+with+diamonds+as+trump)P4N(2nd+step:+03)P5h(K?)P5S(SK)P7Cppp" width="120"></iframe><br />
<br />
The beauty of Kickback‼<br />
<br />
Partner hesitates over 7♣. You don't move, don't breathe, don't flinch,
poker face, poker everything. Partner finally
passes. Phew!<br />
<br />
I did that a few times in my bridge career, setting a false trump suit.
One of my partners "corrected" 2 times (going down each time) before
finally passing the 3rd time. She is still my most precious
and adored partner :-)<br />
<br />
<br />
<iframe height="200" src="https://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?sn=You&s=SQxxHAKxxDAJCKQxx&nn=Partner&n=SAKxxHxDKQxCAxxxx" width="120"></iframe><br />
<br />
Let's see now the rest of Einstein's quotation:<br />
<br />
<i>For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand,
while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be
to know and understand.</i><br />
<br />
Bridge sometimes invites us to travel to another dimension. You can say
Yes or you can say No. <br />
<br />
If you say No, because you feel it is too complicated, demanding,
tiring, stressing, if you don't want to wander out of your comfort
zone, fine, it's your life. You will make 6 clubs with an
overtrick and saw that others were in 7, making. You will
console yourself by saying <span style="font-style: italic;">At
least we bid six</span>.<br />
<br />
But if you say Yes more often, if you take a risk, a calculated risk,
if you embark courageously on an unfamiliar journey, like Theseus, so
unfamiliar that you can sense your nerves shaking, and you reach safely
the destination you had envisioned, you will feel so much more alive. <br />
<br />
But you need a wife/partner who is on the same wavelength as you :-) <br />
<br />
<br />Bernard Marcouxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01266926093375033789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110196181036152836.post-64983762983961121652017-01-23T11:50:00.002-08:002017-01-23T11:50:02.297-08:00The F FactorI wrote many bridge articles in my time (see <a href="http://bernardmarcoux.blogspot.ro/" target="_blank">my blog</a>), but there is one I didn't write. I had the idea but never wrote it.<br />
<br />
With the evolution of the world to become slowly (<i>2 steps forward, one
step backward,</i> said Obama recently) a better place, with equality and
justice for all, women proclaimed there is a woman's way to do things,
different from men, with more empathy, more understanding. They organized
marches and manifestations to demand more women at high levels of business,
government, etc.<br />
<br />
So to keep pace with that movement, I came with the idea of creating a
new version of RKCB, the FRKCB, F standing for Feminist. In a slam sequence,
4nt would ask first: <i>Do you have the Queen? </i><br />
<br />
Now there is a new thing in meteorology that again starts with F. No,
it is not Feminist, but sort of. They call it wind chill factor, or
wind factor, or whatever, that we can all regroup under the word <i>Feeling.</i>
You look at a thermometer and read minus 10. The weather woman will add
that this minus 10C actually <i>feels </i>minus 14C.<br />
<br />
In the summer, you look at the same thermometer and read 30C. The same
weather woman will tell you now that you will <i>feel</i> 34C because of
the humidex factor, again that <i>Feeling</i> thing.<br />
<br />
Would you believe I saw it happen also at bridge recently? First I have
to tell you that, in my club, everybody plays the old fashion way: partner
opens 1something, if responder jumps to 3 of that same suit, it is the
gold old limit raise.<br />
<br />
Why do I mention that? Nothing new, you say? Yes but, at my club (maybe
at yours too), there is a twist: they all play limit raise game forcing.
Facing a limit raise, they all bid game. Don't ask, I stopped a long time
ago trying to explain that to them. When they see +420 on Bridgemate,
that is all they want to know. And if they see -50 or -100, they say
<i>Nothing works today</i>.<br />
<br />
So when opener passes this limit raise, you <b>know</b> you are generally heading
for a minus score, that will feel like a zero.<br />
<br />
Yesterday, at my club, RHO opens 1<span style="color: red;">♥</span>,
I pass and his partner, a woman, bids 3<span style="color: red;">♥</span>, all pass.<br />
<br />
She tables dummy:<br />
<br />
♠AQJxx<br />
<span style="color: red;">♥</span>Q10x<br />
<span style="color: red;">♦</span>Jxx<br />
♣QJ<br />
<br />
When asked why she didn't go to game with 13 points and a fit, she answered:
I didn't <i>feel</i> like it. <br />
<br />
That's when I understood that the <i>Feeling</i> thing had spread to bridge.<br />
<br />
Do I have to tell you declarer made just 3? Did I have to tell you we got a cold zero? And that zero looked like a zero, it walked like a zero, it <i>felt</i>
like a zero, it was a real ZERO.
<br />
<br />Bernard Marcouxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01266926093375033789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110196181036152836.post-24037881644787362752014-10-26T00:31:00.002-07:002014-10-26T00:31:42.015-07:00Do you have imagination?In 1st seat, you have:<br />
<br />
<iframe height="100" src="http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=st9xxh5datxxxxc7x" width="120"></iframe><br />
<br />
You're too weak for 2<span style="color: red;">♦</span>,
you say? Well, a weak 2 is a weak 2.<br />
<br />
You don't open 2<span style="color: red;">♦</span>
if you have a 4 card major, you say? Gee, when are
you going to bid ? <br />
<br />
If you wait for all the conditions they told you about (2 top honours,
not even 3 cards in a major, etc.) you will wait a long time.
A little secret here: all those teachers (but mostly those who are
not), they tell you "Don't do this," and "Don't do that," "Wait for
this" and "Wait for that." In the end, they don't want you to
bid, especially when they play against you.<br />
<br />
As I said, a weak 2 is a weak 2, and more so in 1st position.<br />
<br />
<iframe height="100" src="http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?d=s&a=2dp2np?" width="120"></iframe><br />
<br />
2NT is the only forcing bid after a weak 2. A new suit
without
jump is non forcing, simply saying I would prefer to play in my
suit. It is, IMO, the only way to play.<br />
<br />
Let's say Partner opens 2<span style="color: red;">♥</span>
and I have:<br />
<br />
<iframe height="100" src="http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=skqj9xxdaxxc8xxx" width="120"></iframe><br />
<br />
and I have to pass because 2♠ is forcing? Not for me, thank
you.<br />
<br />
A jump in a major at 3rd level is highly invitational. So 2NT
is the only force. Opener has to show what he has.<br />
<br />
<iframe height="100" src="http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?d=s&a=2dp2np?" width="120"></iframe><br />
<br />
Here are the options:<br />
<br />
3♣ : good hand with at least one 3-card major<br />
3<span style="color: red;">♦</span> : all
bad (even with a 3 card or 4 card M)<br />
3<span style="color: red;">♥</span> : good hand, 4
spades<br />
3♠ : good hand, 4 hearts<br />
3NT : no M, max with good diamonds<br />
<br />
If you bid 3♣, saying good hand with at least one 3 card M, responder
bids 3<span style="color: red;">♦</span> to ask.<br />
<br />
3<span style="color: red;">♥</span> : 3 spades<br />
3♠ : 3 hearts<br />
3NT : 3 in both M<br />
<br />
All above is from Marty Bergen. We have been playing that for
20 years at least. Easy, fun to play, as are most of Bergen's
contributions.<br />
<br />
So:<br />
<br />
<iframe height="100" src="http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?d=s&a=2dp2np3d%28all%20bad%29p3s%28GF%29p?" width="120"></iframe><br />
<br />
WOW! Your hand just got much, much better. 4
points, you say? I don't think so. <br />
<br />
So you bid 4♠? Are you asking me? I will say: NO‼!<br />
<br />
Think. How can you tell partner you like his spades VERY
MUCH? Is there some information you can give him about your
hand? How can I know this info will help him, you
ask? The fact you know or you don't know is not the
point. The point is: tell partner something he doesn't know
about your hand, something that might help him. Yeah, right,
you say, like we will go to slam with my BIG 4 points Do you
know partner's hand? NO. So what do you bid?<br />
<br />
It is a new bid I just invented yesterday, so it is not surprising you
don't know anything about it. Where did I find it?
In the department called <span style="font-style: italic;">Imagination</span>
(In French, "Imagination" is called: <span style="font-style: italic;">La folle du logis</span>.
Well, actually, this bid exists, but it is the first time it will be
used this way. What is it?<br />
<br />
<iframe height="200" src="http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=st9xxh5datxxxxc7x&d=s&a=2dp2np3d%28all%20bad%29p3s%28GF%29p4h" width="120"></iframe><br />
<br />
Make a splinter! What? Yes, splinter. I
know, I know, they told you a splinter is a double jump. Then
you grew up and you learned that it can sometimes be a single jump,
when obvious. Now, with this hand, you don't even have to
jump. <br />
<br />
WHAT? You want me to believe I can splinter without jumping?<br />
Yes, bid 4<span style="color: red;">♥</span>‼!
<br />
<br />
What can 4<span style="color: red;">♥</span> be in
this sequence? Certainly not a suit. It is a
control bid, saying I don't have 2 quick losers in that suit.
As we don't open a weak 2 with 2 aces, 4<span style="color: red;">♥</span>
has to be shortness, showing ace of diamonds by inference.<br />
<br />
You don't play inference either, you say? Well…<br />
<br />
What can we call this splinter without a jump? I created the
phrase <span style="font-style: italic;">Invisible
Splinter</span>. We already have "Invisible cue-bids"
in bridge, so why not "Invisible Splinter"?<br />
<br />
And I don't think you have to alert this. How can we alert
something invisible?? If opponents ask what is 4<span style="color: red;">♥</span>, answer Splinter and
watch the look on their face...<br />
<br />
Check this out:<br />
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=st9xxh5datxxxxc7x&n=sakq8xxhqxxdxcakx&d=s&a=2dp2np3d%28all%20bad%29p3s%28GF%29p4h%28Invisible%20Splinter%29p4np5c%2814%29p6sppp" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
They lead the Ace of hearts, you put dummy down and see partner shake
his
head. Is he disappointed? Mad at you?
After one round of trumps (Jack falling), he ruffs his 3 losers in
dummy and claims, still shaking his head. Cold slam with 22
points.<br />
<br />
"What's the matter?" you ask.<br />
"Bridge is a wonderful game," he says, "and you are the most wonderful
partner."<br />
<br />
Always try to help partner, never be sloppy or negligent or in a
hurry. Think‼! Take your time, use your
imagination. Sometimes you will become the gift from the gods
of bridge: a good partner.<br />
<br />
(On a trump lead, it's another story!)<br />
<br />Bernard Marcouxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01266926093375033789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110196181036152836.post-38030771631692494492014-07-21T03:50:00.003-07:002014-07-21T03:50:58.426-07:00Mother Superior and Sister BursarFrom the distance, you heard them all night, discussing, arguing,
attacking more or less the opponents:<br />
<br />
"No, Ma'am, I took this trick!"<br />
or<br />
"I beg your pardon, Sir, I was not down three, that's impossible!"<br />
<br />
At a certain moment, you even saw a player trying to protect her cards
from Mother Superior who was turning her opponent's tricks ("You played
a diamond on my spade, you did not follow suit, I know, I saw you...")
In the end,
the cards were all mixed up and the director was summoned. When he
arrived, the two Sisters thought they recognized their former defrocked
chaplain and refused to
talk to him. He tried to solve the problem, first by saying he never
was a chaplain, and second by asking everyone at the table to
reconstitute their hand (the boards had to
follow the movement). Seeing that, Mother Superior hissed between her
teeth: "Always the same... has to ask everybody... unable to make a
decision!" After several minutes, and much patience from the chapl...
oops,
director, everything went back to normal.<br />
<br />
I had already counted the tables and knew we would finish against them.
On the first board, with Mother Superior on your right, and Sister
Bursar on your left, you pick up:<br />
<br />
<iframe height="200" src="http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?sn=Sister%20Bursar&wn=Partner&nn=Mother%20Superior&en=You&e=SAK7HK2DK986CT652&d=n&v=o&a=1DP1NP2NPPP" width="120"></iframe><br />
<br />
You almost doubled 2NT, but waited for a 3NT... that never
came. Your partner leads the 6 of hearts (3rd-5th)<br />
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?nn=Mother Superior&n=SQXXHAJ83DAQTXCQX&en=You&e=SAK7HK2DK986CT652&d=n&v=o" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
Sister Bursar calls for a small heart from dummy; you play the King and
shift to the club 6 (second from a bad 4-card
suit). Your partner surprises you by playing Ace, King and a small club
to Sister Bursar's Jack. What does she have
for her 1NT response? If your partner has the heart Queen, Sister
Bursar can only have 3 Jacks, in spades,
diamonds and clubs. Is it possible? In hand, Sister Bursar plays the 10
of heart, partner covers with the Queen and
dummy wins with the Ace. You signal diamond while dummy plays the heart
Jack and a heart, won by partner. She
plays back a diamond, 10 from dummy, and you win your king. Here is the
situation:<br />
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?nn=Mother Superior&n=SQXXHDAQC&en=You&e=SAK7HD9CT&d=n&v=o" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
On your club ten, Sister Bursar (always thrifty) pitches a spade from
dummy and you make the remainder of the
tricks, partner showing up with 4 spades to the Jack (!!!). Down three.<br />
<br />
Sister Bursar has not yet finished playing to the last trick that she
shouts:<br />
<br />
"I have nothing, I have 2 points, we said we would always respond to a
minor suit opening, I won't answer anymore,
it's finished!"<br />
"I had my 15 points, Edith, I think you played poorly..."<br />
"Stop it, I would like to have seen you..."<br />
"Still, I had MY 15 points, hisses again Mother Superior between her
lips, looking hurt."<br />
<br />
While all this is going on, you pick up your second hand, vulnerable
against not:<br />
<br />
<iframe height="200" src="http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?nn=Sister%20B&en=Partner&sn=Mother%20S&wn=You&w=STHATDA8753CK8765&d=w&v=e&a=1DD1H%211S2C%28*ALERT%21%29" width="120"></iframe><br />
*Alert!
<br />
<br />
Mother Superior (South), out of turn, asks:<br />
<br />
"Don't shout, we are not deaf. What is it?"<br />
"My partner doesn't have 3 hearts."<br />
"How come you know that?"<br />
"That's what we play, Moth... sorry, Ma'am."<br />
<br />
Mother Superior examines my partner a few seconds and turns to me.<br />
<br />
"How many Hearts does she have?"<br />
"I don't know."<br />
"You're like the Chaplain, you never know nothing..."<br />
<br />
<iframe height="200" src="http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?nn=Sister%20B&en=Partner&sn=Mother%20S&wn=You&w=STHATDA8753CK8765&d=w&v=e&a=1DD1H%211S2C%28*ALERT%21%29p2sp%28*%293c3sxp%28**%29ppp" width="120"></iframe><br />
* "Excuse me?" (indignantly). "I say, that's peculiar! I pass"<br />
** "That's game, you know..."<br />
<br />
You lead the heart Ace. To fully understand what is going to happen,
you need to see the 4 hands:<br />
<br />
<iframe height="400" src="http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?nn=Sister%20Bursar&en=Partner&sn=Mother%20Superior&wn=You&w=STHATDA8753CK8765&n=saj93hqjxxdkjtcxx&e=skq84hkxxxdqxxcax&s=sxxxxhxxxdxxcqjxx&d=w&v=e&a=1DD1H%211S2C%28*ALERT%21%29p2sp%28*%293c3sxp%28**%29ppp" width="450"></iframe><br />
<br />
On your Ace, partner plays the 2, upside-down attitude. You continue
with the 10, ducked all around. You switch to a
small club, partner wins the Ace and plays back a heart; you ruff, play
the club King and a club, ruffed by dummy's 3,
overruffed by partner's 4.<br />
<br />
"I say," reacts Mother Superior.<br />
<br />
Sister Bursar cannot stay silent: <br />
"I don't know what's happening to you today, you play so funny..."<br />
<br />
Your partner plays the heart King. Mother Superior ruffs in her hand
and plays a spade. When she sees you sluff a
club, she gives you a piercing look: <br />
<br />
"You don't have any spades???"<br />
"No Moth... Ma'am..."<br />
"I find this bridge club very peculiar; she has no clubs, he has no
spades. Things are not too catholic in here."<br />
"Maybe you should call the Chaplain," chimes in Sister Bursar.<br />
"He is not a chaplain, he is a DIRECTOR..."<br />
"Let me see your hand!" shouts Mother Superior to me, authoritative and
suspicious.<br />
"No Moth... Ma'am..."<br />
<br />
You pull away from the table, holding your cards to your chest, waving
to your partner to do the same. One moment,
it seems that Mother Superior will attack you and take away your cards,
like she has done before during the evening.<br />
<br />
But she closes her eyes, probably praying, and calms down.<br />
<br />
Your partner takes the spade Queen and plays back a diamond. You win
the Ace, and play a diamond; dummy's King
wins and Mother Superior plays Ace of spades, spade won by your partner
who cashes the diamond Queen for
+ 1400.<br />
<br />
Mother Superior, on the brink of a nervous breakdown, becomes
indignant: <br />
"I don't know what's happening at this
table, I have never seen that!..."<br />
<br />
Sister Bursar says, with her sweetest voice: "How much was that, minus
500?" (her name suits her very well indeed)
partner replies: "1400."<br />
<br />
"1400, that's impossible..."<br />
"Do you want to play it again?"<br />
"No, no, put down what you like, 1400, 2000, it's all the same."<br />
"It is not the same; 1400 is 1400; it is not 500 and it's not 2000..."<br />
"Write down what you like..."<br />
"We won't write down what we like, it's 1400... Would you like to call
the chaplain?"<br />
"No, no, we got to go, we must be in the convent by 10..."<br />
<br />
You invite your partner to leave the table, before a fight breaks out.<br />
<br />
It was an evening like any other, at your local bridge club.<br />
<br />Bernard Marcouxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01266926093375033789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110196181036152836.post-41537388172400999282014-07-13T23:12:00.002-07:002014-07-13T23:12:29.310-07:00Ascoli SatrianoAlas! You will never travel to Ascoli Satriano. <br />
<br />
It is not your fault, you say, but I am not sure about that you were born in Canada,
not in Italy, and you think it is a good reason. In addition, you don't travel. Or,
if you travel, for exoticism you say, you rely only on travel agents, on sure things:
you take packages with guides to Rome, Florence, Venice. In winter, you go to Cuba or
Florida, always all included, because it is less trouble. You don't like trouble.
In fact, when you travel, you do it "accidentally", like if you were staying at home.
You look for Holiday Inns and eat steak, like at home.<br />
<br />
If you decided to go to Ascoli Satriano, you would have to take a map, to establish a
plan, to leave the main roads and travel into the unknown. You don't like the unknown,
you prefer freeways, or the reassuring comfort of your house.<br />
All in all, you are a bit (a lot) coward, you don't have the guts to go and see elsewhere,
you prefer to stay home and repeat that travelling costs too much. But, deep down, you
nevertheless envy those who travel.<br />
<br />
In 4th position, you have:<br />
<br />
<iframe height="100" src="http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?sn=You&s=SAJT3HK6DAK2CKQ63&d=n&v=o&b=1" width="120"></iframe><br />
<br />
Oh, you just love it when you have big hands! You feel secure with those Aces and Kings.
LHO passes, partner passes and RHO shatters your bliss with a 3 ♠ opening bid.<br />
<br />
Do you really want to travel, like you say you would if you could? I am giving you here
the opportunity. Or are you fearful? If you feel fear, you will pass and hope that
partner will double, in order to "get" them. You like it so much when you "get" them,
those players who bid, too much to your liking, those players who jump into life with gusto
(in fact, you are a bit jealous; you feel it is not permitted to love life like this, and
to enjoy it so much). When you get them, you are so happy. When you don't get them, well,
it is not your fault, you're not lucky, you didn't have a bid, partner did not double, etc.
It is "so you": you want everything, but you want to stay home, in front of your TV set.<br />
<br />
You are daydreaming, of course, partner will never double (he is more afraid than you are),
you will get a bad score and you will complain about your bad luck, or about those opponents
who never let you play bridge.<br />
<br />
Or you can dare, you can pull all the stops and bid 3NT, and you will feel like when the
plane starts on the runway: this irresistible thrust, that inebriates you each time, this
void deep down your stomach that confirms that you are leaving, that you are airborne,
that you are flying, that you are "living" at last.<br />
<br />
Your belt fastened, you decide to listen to me, to get in there, to jump in there, and
che sera sera: you take a deep breath and pull out the 3NT card. Nobody doubles and you
already feel better.<br />
<br />
LHO leads a small spade.<br />
<br />
<iframe height="200" src="http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?sn=You&s=SAJT3HK5DAK2CKQ63&nn=Dummy&n=S5HJ9843DJ643CJ95&d=n&v=o&b=1" width="120"></iframe><br />
<br />
The sight of dummy makes you already regret your audacity: where are you going to find tricks?
You were so secure, you should have passed, shouldn't you? All those small cards in dummy
give you the creeps. What you like at bridge are those Aces and Kings, those sure things
that nobody can take away from you, like Rome, Florence, Venice. Lower than the Queen, you
don't like bridge so much any more. <br />
<br />
You don't know what to do with those 6's, and those 7's, or 8's, or 9's. They are like
those unknown destinations on road maps, where nobody goes, like Ascoli Satriano, and all
those mysterious names: Bitonto, Corato, Canosa, Cerignola ... Maybe we'll get lost ... <br />
<br />
You are breathing heavily: you really don't know what to do with this dummy. You feel
anguish down your stomach and panic is creeping into you. Don't panic, count!! To count
at bridge is the best antidote to panic: count, count, count. Count what? Your tricks,
obviously. You have 1 trick in spades, 2 in diamonds, and ... well, don't panic. The
Diamond Queen could be doubleton? <br />
<br />
That's it, start to dream again. Count, I told you, don't dream, don't feel sorry for
yourself, don't take it out on me, you dove in, you're in it now, that's life, real life.
You are the master of your destiny.<br />
<br />
Let's count something else then: RHO has probably 7 spades, that's at least a useful
information. He has then 6 cards in the 3 other suits. See, we are making progress.<br />
<br />
You can probably develop 3 tricks in clubs, if you guess them properly, obviously.
Do you feel better? No? Let's go anyway.<br />
<br />
RHO plays the spade Queen, you win the Ace and play a club; LHO plays small and it is
up to you: don't play the Jack. Do you really believe clubs are breaking 3-3 on this
auction? Let's be serious. <br />
<br />
In addition, at bridge, you must try to get the opponents to play their big cards on
your small cards. The 9, that card that you never look at, becomes suddenly interesting,
and you play it: RHO plays the Ace!! Do you feel better now? I hope so. For my part,
I am breathing a little easier. RHO plays back the 10 of diamonds, showing probably a doubleton.<br />
<br />
You take your Ace, play a small club to the Jack, then KQ of clubs, RHO sluffing spades
on the last 2 clubs. His hand should be:<br />
<br />
<iframe height="100" src="http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?en=RHO&e=SKQ98XXXHXXDTXCAX&d=n&v=o&b=1" width="120"></iframe><br />
<br />
See how much progress we made with nothing. All you have to do is count. West probably
has a 1444 hand. If he had had a 5-card suit, maybe he would have led it. His hand
should then be:<br />
<br />
<img src="http://doc.bridgebase.com/lobbynews/fluff/ascoli1" /><br />
<br />
Count again: you have 1 trick in spades (eventually 2, but you have to count only sure
tricks), 3 in clubs, 2 in diamonds, 6 tricks in all. Better than what we had at the start,
no? You need 3 more tricks, and the location of the Ace of hearts means you won't make
a trick with your King. Don't give up, don't feel discouraged, think and count, it is
the only way: count, count, count. This is the position:<br />
<br />
<img src="http://doc.bridgebase.com/lobbynews/fluff/ascoli2" /><br />
<br />
You are sitting on the edge of your seat, fully awake now, concentrated at 100%, that's
real life (thank me now for having forced you to overcome your fear). Do you see the
solution? LHO has only Hearts and Diamonds ... <br />
<br />
You begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel: if you play the King of hearts,
LHO will take it and won't be able to play diamonds, for he will give you 3 tricks.
He will have to play back a heart and, if RHO doesn't have the Queen, you will be in
dummy. Can RHO have the heart Queen? Maybe. Maybe she is singleton. <br />
<br />
If she is doubleton, what will happen? LHO will win you King, play back a heart to
RHO's Queen, who will cash his spade and get out with a diamond, leaving you a trick
short: 3 spades, 2 diamonds and 3 clubs. This solution has therefore to be rejected.
At this point in your contract, you have to root for the position that will permit you
to succeed. LHO must have AQ of hearts if you want to make 9 tricks.<br />
<br />
You don't really see clearly the rest (like when you take the road for Ascoli Satriano),
but you decide to sacrifice this heart King. West takes it with the Ace, East following,
and comes back a heart.<br />
<br />
You are at the crossroads: which card do you play from dummy? Verifying once again
in your mind your hypothesis of necessity, you finally play the Jack in dummy and East
produces the ... 10. You heart skips a beat. <br />
<br />
The position is now:<br />
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?sn=You&s=SJT3HDK2C&wn=West&w=SHQXDQXXC&nn=Dummy&n=SH98DJ64C&en=East&e=SK98XHDXC&d=n&v=o&b=1" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
You are almost home. You're in dummy; count your tricks once again: you have 1 spade
(eventually 2), 1 heart, 2 diamonds and 3 clubs. You can make another heart trick
with the <span style="color: red;">♥</span> 9 8 combination in dummy. Incredible, isn't it?<br />
You see the rest now very clearly. If you play the 9 of hearts, you will pitch a
small spade, West will be in hand again with the 3rd trick for the defence. <br />
<br />
If he comes back diamond, you will play the Jack, making 3 tricks in the suit.
You will then cash the 8 of hearts. You will come back to your hand with the King
of diamonds, stripping East of his last diamond and you will exit with the Jack of spades. <br />
<br />
East will take his King, 4th trick for the defence, but will have to give you a spade for your 9th trick.<br />
If West comes back a heart, you will make the 8 in dummy, pitching your diamond,
come in hand with the King of diamonds and the rest is easy. Fascinating, isn't it?<br />
<br />
Those 8, 9, 10 and Jacks, how they appear suddenly under a new light. In fact, you
have made almost half of your tricks with these cards you don't really look at generally:
J9 in hearts, J9 of clubs, and you will make the Jack of diamonds or the 10 of spades.<br />
<br />
While you are floating, your opponents get impatient (like those people in a hurry who
want to arrive in big cities very quickly and don't care for small villages). You let
them huff and puff, and enjoy.<br />
<br />
Ascoli Satriano appears on horizon, amidst the green plains and the golden pasture of
Italy's heartland. High on its pinnacle, it looks like those J98xx of hearts in dummy,
apparently without interest, in the middle of nowhere, out of reach.<br />
<br />
But there was a way, all you had to do was to search for it, and you found it.<br />
<br />
You play the 9 of hearts, pitching a small spade. West wins and comes back a heart.
You win the 8 in dummy, pitching your small diamond. You play diamond to your King,
and place the spade Jack on the table. East wins and comes back a spade, you win the
10 : 9 tricks and this sensation of floating, of soaring, of living, that you never felt.<br />
<br />
At bridge, every card counts and, to succeed in a contract, you cannot afford to be
snob, in a hurry or negligent: every card is important, and sometimes you have to s
acrifice Rome, Florence and Venice if you want to discover the real pleasure of travelling,
the real intoxication, the real world, these 8's, 9's and 10's that nobody talks about in travel guides.<br />
<br />
If you go one day to Ascoli Satriano, you'll see, nothing has changed. You enter
the village on the right, by the only street. The house of Arturo's grand-parents
is just there, the third on the right, with this veranda on top on the second story
that he remembers so well, even if he went there only once, 70 years ago. A little
further, you arrive on the plaza. You stop at the bar and Arturo asks if the village
still has some people called Rolla, his surname. The barman says: "Certainly, the mayor is a Rolla."<br />
<br />
I told you : nothing has changed.<br />
<br />
Sadly, it is not really the truth, one thing has changed. If you go to Ascoli Satriano,
it will never be at the same time as my friend Arturo, and you will never hear him tell
you how, when he was a little boy, the farmers would walk the streets of his village,
in the morning, and stop at each door in order to milk the goats for the housewives.<br />
<br />
Have a nice trip, dear friend*.<br />
<br />
*In memory of my beloved friend Arturo Rolla, from Trieste (Italy), lover of life,
who died the 28 of September 1997.Bernard Marcouxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01266926093375033789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110196181036152836.post-53825506580506072262014-06-18T09:38:00.000-07:002014-06-18T09:38:45.289-07:00Parasail-BridgeGavin is giving you instructions, but you are not really
listening. Knees bent, facing the wind, a bit nervous, you
wait. All of a sudden, Gavin, Noel and Mervin let go of the
parachute, the boat pulls you, you soar towards the sky, soon reaching
70 meters of altitude. In front of you, Barbados.
Under you, the Caribbean Sea, turquoise fluted with catamarans,
sailboats, surfboards and water skiers whose immaculate wakes
interweave in total silence.<br />
<br />
Sometimes, the boat stops and you stay there, hanging on air.
Where is the earth, where is the sky? You don't want to know,
you just want to enjoy this exhilaration of flying.<br />
<br />
This state of grace you sometimes reach at bridge, when everything is
going well, when you don't make mistakes, when good boards are followed
by excellent ones. You then climb at a certain altitude, you
live on a "high". You don't even talk to your partner, you
just want to maintain this altitude.<br />
<br />
On the first board, you took a sacrifice in 5♣ doubled and, with a
false card, managed to keep it to -500, for 10,5 matchpoints out of
11. On the 2nd board, you locked declarer in dummy and he had
to concede down 2 in 3NT for another 10,5.<br />
<br />
On Board 9, you have :<br />
<br />
<iframe height="200" src="http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?sn=You&s=sj7642h9765dt852&d=w&a=1dx2cp3dp3sp4dp5dxppp" width="120"></iframe><br />
<br />
Opponents play Precision. In Barbados, everybody plays
Precision. Your partner leads the Ace of heart.
Dummy:<br />
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?wn=Dummy&w=skq83hqjd7cqj8642&nn=Partner&sn=You&s=sj7642h9765dt852&d=w&a=1dx2cp3dp3sp4dp5dxppp" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
On the heart Ace, you play the 9, upside-down. Your partner
thinks a bit and returns... a club. You ruff and play back a
heart. A second club ruff follows. You play back a
spade. Partner wins the Ace and gives you a third club ruff
for +1100. After 11 boards, midway through the session,
you're at 78%.<br />
<br />
You don't hear nothing anymore, you see only your 13 cards, you are not
warm, you are not cold, you just float with the parasail, you feel like
a god.<br />
<br />
Board 12:<br />
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?sn=You&s=sa82ha5daqcakj986&nn=Partner&n=sk75hqjt4dk52c542&d=s&a=2cp2hp2np4np5cp6np7cp7nppp" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
2♥ shows 2 controls, so 2 Kings, because you have all 4 aces.
You hesitate before bidding 2NT (22-24), but you want to protect AQ of
diamonds. 4NT is quantitative: 9-10 points, 4333. 5♣ says 0
or 4 aces. 6NT closes the auction but, knowing the club fit
(partner has shown 4333), you decide to bid the grand in
clubs. Partner corrects to 7NT.<br />
<br />
The lead of the diamond Jack shows you have 12 tricks if clubs break
3-3 or if the Queen is well placed. Entries to dummy are
scarce and the diamond blockage is annoying. <br />
<br />
You win in hand and play the club Ace: the devilish 10 appears on your
left. You follow your instincts and cash the diamond Queen
before playing a spade to the King. <br />
<br />
You need 2 heart tricks, so Heart Queen from dummy (tension, hope,
fear, like before the Parasail ride). The queen
wins! You soar in the sky. You have to cash the
diamond King now because you will never go back to dummy. <br />
<br />
All is left now is:<br />
<br />
<iframe height="200" src="http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=sahackj986&n=s75hjt4c54" width="120"></iframe><br />
<br />
You play a small club from dummy, and you see small to your right.<br />
<br />
The boat has stopped, you hear only the wind in the parachute, you are
in a second state: since the beginning, you knew you will finesse in
clubs. Will the wind die down and precipitate your
fall? Or will it push you higher, till your dream of cutting
the rope?<br />
<br />
A passage from G.G. Marquez' <span style="font-style: italic;">"One
Hundred Years of Solitude"</span> comes to your mind:<br />
<br />
<span style="font-style: italic;">"Amaranta experienced a
mysterious chill in her lace petticoat and tried to hang to the sheets
in order not to fall, while Remedios the Beauty was beginning to rise
in the air. Ursula, already almost blind, was the only one to keep
enough mind to recognize the nature of this wind that nothing could
stop, and let the sheets go with this light, seeing Remedios the Beauty
waving farewells in the middle of the dazzling flapping of the sheets
climbing with her, leaving the world of beetles and dahlias, crossing
the regions of the air where it was already four o'clock in the
afternoon, to be lost forever with her in the higher spheres where the
highest birds of memory could not themselves reach her."</span><br />
<br />
The boat starts again. How much time did you stay there,
dreaming? One second? You put the club 8 on the
table... RHO plays... not a club. + 2220.<br />
<br />
In silence, you put your cards back in the board and the boat takes you
to the next table.<br />
<br />Bernard Marcouxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01266926093375033789noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110196181036152836.post-33319072598476518772014-06-07T22:34:00.000-07:002014-06-07T22:34:39.160-07:00Trompe - L'oeil<i>Trompe-l'oeil </i>is a technique used by painters, aiming essentially at creating,
with artificial perspective, the illusion of real objects. Basically, it gives the
illusion of three dimensions where there are only two. In Italy, in Liguria, you will
find many examples of trompe-l'oeil in churches and temples.<br />
<br />
But at bridge, can you create trompe-l'oeil ? <br />
<br />
Look at this example, from Bob Hamman's book, At the table. <br />
<br />
Hamman reports this hand played by John Hancock in 1955 or 56. <br />
<br />
Hamman explains also that Sydney Lazard, one of the great names in American bridge,
almost gave up bridge when he learned how Hancock had played this hand. "How can I
continue to play bridge when there are people making such brilliant plays?" wondered Lazard.<br />
<br />
Hancock opened 1NT and his partner bid 3NT, over which East hesitated quite a lot
before passing, hesitation noted by everyone present.<br />
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?sn=Hancock&s=SQ43HKQ86DQ9CKQJ2&w=S982HAT3DKJT43CT3&nn=Dummy&n=S6HJ54DA652CA8765&e=SAKJT75H972D87C94&d=n&v=o&b=1" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
Hancock turned towards West and said: "Make your normal lead."<br />
<br />
Well, West led a spade, the 9. <br />
<br />
West had found declarer's weakness and East, an excellent player, also found the right
defence when he played the 10, in order to maintain communication. How could Hancock
arrive at 9 tricks with this perfect start for the defence? He had only 7 tricks and,
the moment he would play heart, opponents would jump on their Ace and cash all their spades. <br />
<br />
So what was Hancock's play at trick one?<br />
<br />
HE DUCKED ! <br />
<br />
He knew East could not have the Ace of heart, for he would have opened with AKJ10xx in
spades and the heart Ace. <br />
<br />
If Hancock took his spade Queen, he would go down for sure. So he had to throw sand in
the eyes of the defenders, he had to use trompe-l'oeil in order to create a false image
of his hand for East.<br />
<br />
Now, put yourself in East's place : how can he think declarer has ducked with Qxx in spades? <br />
<br />
The lead of the spade 9 seemed to come from a doubleton, which would confirm Qxxx in declarer's hand. <br />
<br />
Please note this play can only succeed against a good player, a player that counts and thinks.
A bad player, seeing his 10 has won the trick, would simply bang down the Ace and the King,
cashing the first 6 tricks and afterwards telling everyone who would listen how this "expert"
ducked a sure trick and went down 3 in 3NT.<br />
<br />
But East was not a bad player and he fell for the trompe-l'oeil created by Hancock. <br />
<br />
He saw declarer would never make a spade trick, after ducking the first trick, so he switched
to a heart. West won and came back another spade. At trick 3, East won his spade King and,
not willing to give declarer a spade trick, switched again. Hancock had now 9 tricks and it
is East who looked like a fool. <br />
<br />
But what can one do in such cases if not congratulate declarer for such a brilliant play?<br />
<br />
At Montreal's World Championship in 2002, a player made such a play and it is just too bad
we don't know his name. Here is his hand and listen carefully to the bidding.<br />
<br />
<iframe height="200" src="http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?n=SJHQ963DJ9763C742&d=w&v=o&b=8&a=1SP2CP3C" width="120"></iframe><br />
<br />
Opening your hand, in North, at your local game, your level of interest would probably dip
down towards zero because, for the immense majority of club players, to play bridge is to play the hand.<br />
<br />
To play in defence is a bad moment to endure : it is boring and it is soooooooo long, you don't
pay to be in defence, the only fun at bridge is to play the hand. If we would make a phone call,
before the start of the game, let's say to all East-West players, telling them they would defend
15 out of 24 hands that night, I think a majority would not come.<br />
<br />
Once the bidding has started like you see, which seems to indicate North-South are going to slam,
you would probably have put your hand on the table and start yawning.<br />
<br />
<iframe height="100" src="http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?a=1SP2CP3CP3SP4HP4NP6DP6HP7C?&" width="120"></iframe><br />
<br />
3♣ shows extra values and 6<span style="color: red;">♦</span> probably shows a void
in diamonds. When West bids 7♣, do you think you can do something with your awful hand?
The player seating North in Montreal World Championships, instead of complaining silently about
his bad cards, thought he could do something. He doubled !! <br />
<br />
Follow closely: a double in this situation is a Lightner double and asks for a special lead. In
this case, the double would probably ask for a lead in the first suit bid by dummy, spades, and
says you will win the first trick, with a ruff. You cannot ruff the first trick, you say? I know
and that player knew it also, BUT, using <i>trompe-l'oeil </i>, this player created the illusion he was
ruffing spades in order to push the opponents in 7♠, which they did. But why did he do that? <br />
<br />
Look at the hand again.<br />
<br />
<iframe height="100" src="http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?n=SJHQ963DJ9763C742&d=w&v=o&b=8" width="120"></iframe><br />
<br />
Opponents have established a fit in clubs, North has 3 clubs and maybe, MAYBE, his partner
has a void in clubs and will ruff the first trick. The double worked perfectly.<br />
<br />
<iframe height="100" src="http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?a=1SP2CP3CP3SP4HP4NP6DP6HP7CD!(%21%21)7SPPP&" width="120"></iframe><br />
<br />
The plan had worked, the trompe l'oeil had pushed the opponents in the contract he wanted :
the lead was a club and North waited anxiously, heart pounding, to see his partner's first card.
Here is the whole deal :<br />
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=SXXXHTXXDAQXXXXC6&w=SKQTXXHAJXXDCQJXX&n=SJHQ963DJ9763C742&e=SA98XHKXDKTCAKTXX&" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
Alas, partner did not ruff (partners are sooooooooo bad !), but that is not important. <br />
<br />
The only important thing is that this player stayed with the hand during all the bidding sequence
and that he imagined a way to defeat the grand slam. <br />
<br />
I don't know the name of the player who did this, but it is, in my view, the most brilliant bid of the year.<br />
<br />
What a <i>trompe-l'oeil </i> (especially with bidding boxes !).<br />
<br />Bernard Marcouxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01266926093375033789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110196181036152836.post-84146482474816380102014-05-24T22:51:00.002-07:002014-05-24T22:51:18.125-07:00 Neanderthal, Cro-Magnon, Homo Sapiens and the Stone BowlThe Neanderthal Man, it seems,
played bridge ("and what about the
Neanderthal Woman?" will ask the feminists; in fact, and very
seriously, we cannot say for sure women existed at that time because
science books only mention the Neanderthal Man). Stone tablets have
been found lately, from year minus 32,000, on which one could read: <br />
<br />
<img src="http://doc.bridgebase.com/lobbynews/bbostories/Photos/Fluff%2011.png" /><br />
<br />
An archaeologist, himself a bridge player, suggested that the numbers,
and their disposition, looked like bridge. It was easy, after that, to
decipher the abbreviations. A funny chap said that the game had
probably been played between the National Hockey League (NHL) and the
Canadian National (Railroad company, owned by the Canadian Government),
hockey players' behaviour seeming to come out directly from the middle
Palaeolithic, and CN's old equipment probably dating from the same era.<br />
<br />
After protests from NHL and CN representatives, the experts
concluded that NHL meant Neanderthal and CN, Cro-Magnon. Then again, we
don't know if women existed because experts talk solely of Neanderthal
Man (from year -150,000 to year -35,000) and Cro-Magnon Man (year
-30,000).<br />
<br />
Further research established that Neanderthal opened 1NT with 16-18
points and Cro-Magnon, with 12-14. Why this difference? was the big
question. Well, it seems that Cro-Magnon was a bit snob. Being the
first representative of Homo Sapiens, he had invented 1NT 12-14 to
really distinguish himself from Neanderthal.<br />
<br />
The numbers show that the score was game all, 1220 to 710 for
Cro-Magnon. We don't know what happened during the third game. One
theory is probably that the mockery of Cro-Magnon Men finally
used up all the patience of Neanderthal Men who simply killed
their opponents.<br />
<br />
Experts also found out there was a bridge match, later, between
Cro-Magnon Men and Homo Sapiens. In fact, they have only discovered a
newspaper article in the England Daily Stone from the year -25,000.
Here is that article, in its entirety, written by a Homo Sapiens named
Standard American, freelance at the England Daily Stone. Notice
the tone full of mockery of the article, that would nowadays be totally
out of line and severely condemned by every organism for the protection
of visible minorities and endangered species.<br />
<br />
<b><u>The Stone Bowl: Homo Sapiens proves his superiority
over Cro-Magnon</u></b><br />
by Standard American, freelance journalist<br />
England Daily Stone<br />
<br />
Cro-Magnon, in first position, opens 1NT, 12-14 points, and you, Homo
Sapiens, have:<br />
<br />
<iframe height="100" src="http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?wn=You&w=STXXHKJXDAQXXCAQX&d=n&v=o&b=1" width="120"></iframe><br />
<br />
Do you double for penalty? You have 16 points and Cro-Magnon, only
12-14; the question to ask is not: "Do you double?" but "Do you have a
good lead?," and the answer is no. Therefore, you must pass, in tempo.
A good tempo is very important because primitive people, I should say
especially primitive people, have very good instincts. <br />
<br />
If you hesitate, Cro-Magnon will feel something and be on guard. In
addition, before opening 1NT, Cro-Magnon very shrewdly puts his index
in his mouth and then points it towards
the sky to register any variation in the air. If he feels a vibration
from you, he will know. <br />
<br />
But you have discovered his trick a long time ago (you are not Homo
Sapiens for nothing) and you always sit downwind when you play against
him. Cro-Magnon can only feel hesitations from your Woman Sapiens, who
cannot hesitate because she is sitting in the 4th seat. <br />
<br />
Cro-Magnon suspects that his trick is not working, but his limited
intelligence cannot yet
find the reason.<br />
<br />
Cro's partner passes and your partner also. You lead a small spade and
you see :<br />
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?wn=You&w=STXXHKJXDAQXXCAQX&nn=Dummy&n=SKQXXHT9XDKXCJTXX&d=n&v=o&b=1" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
Cro-Magnon grumbles something and, when his partner says "You're
welcome" you understand that he said thank you. Cro-Magnon cashes
three spade tricks (on the 3rd spade trick, your partner pitches the
diamond Jack, promising the Ten) and you comment :<br />
<br />
"They missed their 4-4 spade fit."<br />
<br />
Cro-Magnon groans again and his partner translates :<br />
<br />
"1NT making 2 is better than 2 spades making 2!"<br />
<br />
Cro-Magnon then runs the heart 10 to your Jack. You shift to a small
diamond, under AQxx. Dummy's king wins. Cro-Magnon now plays the 9 of
heart from dummy, small by partner, small by Cro-Magnon and you DUCK
also (you have seen Gabriel Chagas do those things before)! <br />
<br />
A broad smile forms on Cro's short face: 8 tricks are there, +120, to
beat all those Homo Sapiens with +110. Under his bushy eyebrows, you
can see his little eyes full of joy. <br />
<br />
He snorts a long triumphant grunt and you understand that he is looking
for words that will avenge all past humiliations, all failures, all
defeats to the hands of Homo Sapiens and their superior bidding system.<br />
<br />
Cro-Magnon plays a 3rd heart from dummy, partner plays small and, with
a splash of confidence and scorn, Cro thumps the Queen... that you
win with your bare King. Cro-Magnon roars with anger. One moment, it
seems that Cro-Magnon will take his axe and split your head, but his
partner intervenes :<br />
<br />
"Down, Cro, down..."<br />
<br />
Cro-Magnon huddles up and soon, you see only his creased forehead above
the table. It is clear that he is wondering how the King of hearts,
which was on his right for the second finesse, suddenly appeared on his
left after the third finesse. His partner, reading his mind (!), says :<br />
<br />
"Relax, I will explain later."<br />
<br />
You play a small diamond under AQ, your partner wins with the 10 and
switches to a club. You cash AQ of clubs and AQ of diamond: 1NT down 1,
+ 50 for Homo Sapiens, instead of 2 spades making 2 for Cro-Magnon.<br />
<br />
If you had doubled 1NT, Cro-Magnon would have played two spades. His
partner has taught him Rescue Bids, which are really Homo Sapiens' bids
designed to pull Cro-Magnon out of his misery.<br />
<br />
If you had doubled 1NT, you would also have doubled 2 spades. Logical,
isn't it? Cro's logic, but logic (even Homo Sapiens still has certain
macho traits of Cro-Magnon).<br />
<br />
And Cro-Magnon would have made 2 spades doubled.<br />
<br />
Do you really want to face Cro's elephantine irony when he will score +
670? Not me.<br />
<br />Bernard Marcouxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01266926093375033789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110196181036152836.post-58324675076127419392014-05-16T22:37:00.003-07:002014-05-16T22:53:56.785-07:00The Angel's ShareAt the house of wines Ott, in Provence, Mrs Castel takes us around the
facilities with exquisite kindness. She explains that the wine ages in
enormous casks, called "Foudres", with a capacity of 30,000 litres
each. Each week though, they must add wine to the casks because of
evaporation, called the "Angels' Share".<br />
<br />
At the end of the tour, you taste different years of whites and reds,
starting with the youngest and making your way back to their best year.
You must not drink each wine you taste, for you will get drunk quite
rapidly. You try to maintain a critical mind, to become the
Devil's Advocate in order to identify qualities and nuances. The last
wine tasted is simply divine and, losing all critical judgement (you
did not always spit out the wines), you buy a few bottles.<br />
<br />
Bidding a bridge hand is like wine tasting. You must avoid getting
drunk, you must try to keep a critical mind, and not fall in love with your hand. <br />
<br />
On seeing dummy though, your attitude will depend on your chances. If
you got drunk in the bidding and find yourself in an impossible
contract, you must continue to drink, you must get drunk with optimism
and presume all cards are well placed; you must hope for a miracle and
ask the Angels for help.<br />
<br />
If, on the contrary, you have attained a sound contract, you must
become extremely cautious; you must not go to sleep because it seems
too easy; you must prepare for the worst and become the Devil's
Advocate.<br />
<br />
And sometimes, strange paradox, by becoming the Devil's Advocate, you
will receive help from the Angels.<br />
<br />
You open 2NT as South, partner bids Stayman; you bid 3<span style="color: red;">♥</span> and partner bids 4<span style="color: red;">♥</span>. The lead is the 2 of
spades, 3rd/5th. <br />
<br />
<iframe height="200" src="http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?sn=Declarer&s=SAXHAJXXDKJXCAQJX&nn=Dummy&n=SKJXXHQ7XXDQXXCTX&d=n&v=o&b=1" width="120"></iframe><br />
<br />
Too easy, only 3 losers: a heart, a diamond and a club. A 3-2 break in
hearts will see your home. <br />
<br />
It is time to become the Devil's Advocate and watch out for a 4-1
break, the only problem you can encounter.<br />
<br />
Jack of spades from dummy is winning. You immediately play a club to
the Queen; West wins and plays back a spade to your Ace. Club to
dummy's 10 and a heart to your Jack. West playing the 9.<br />
<br />
Is it the Devil pricking your left shoulder or your Guardian Angel
putting his reassuring hand on your right shoulder (everybody knows the
Devil stands on our left and our Guardian Angel on our right)? Left,
right, Devil or Angel, this 9 shines like a lighthouse in the night and
you suddenly know trumps are 4-1. And if East still has K108, you have
a trump loser. Or do you?<br />
<br />
The Devil has taken you so far, but miracles are not his specialty. It
is well known that the Devil bothers about reality and the Angels about
surreality.<br />
<br />
What do you know about East's hand? The Devil has helped you find out
East has probably 2 spades and 4 hearts (KT8x).<br />
<br />
If the Angels now have given him 3 diamonds to the Ace and 4 clubs, a
miracle is going to happen.<br />
<br />
You play the diamond Jack and a diamond towards the Queen; East wins
and plays back diamond. <br />
<br />
The Angels seem to have done their work. Here is the position you are
looking for:<br />
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?sn=Declarer&s=SHAXXDCAJ&nn=Dummy&n=SKXHQ7XDC&e=SHKT8DCXX&d=n&v=o&b=1" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
Ace of Clubs to pitch a spade from dummy, East follows; Jack of
Clubs... ruffed in dummy, East follows! <br />
<br />
Thank you, Guardian Angel! The stage is set: King of spades, East
ruffs. A sudden silence comes over the table and everything seems to
happen in slow motion as you take a trump from your hand and underruff!!<br />
<br />
Your partner looks at you like if you were crazy. West mutters
something, devil or hell something. <br />
<br />
Only East understands what has happened. Besides, he doesn't play back
immediately; he shakes his head, incredulous, not believing such
beauty. You and East make eye contact for a moment and you both
understand that you are not masters of those events. <br />
<br />
In front of such poetry, of such "necessity", you both know that bridge
is really the game of gods and that God probably threw the Devil in
hell because he went down in a cold 3NT.<br />
<br />
East plays back a trump, you duck to dummy's Queen and your Ace
captures East's King for the 10th trick.<br />
<br />
Who said Devil and Angels were enemies? At bridge, we often need both.<br />
<br />
Is bridge the perfect game, which reconciles Devil and Angels, Earth
and Heaven, Hell and Paradise? It seems.<br />
<br />
The Devil though is only an advocate; his contribution is pedestrian
and terrestrial. On the other hand, poetry and miracles, that's the
Angel's <span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">share</span>.Bernard Marcouxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01266926093375033789noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110196181036152836.post-91844693351752715422014-05-07T05:39:00.000-07:002014-05-07T05:39:07.019-07:00The Queens in the Tower of LondonYou join the visitors gathering around the Yeoman, British to the tip
of his mustache, his cape in pure cashmere making you sick with envy
[You have <span style="font-style: italic;">decided</span>
not to purchase this splendid cashmere overcoat at
Aquascutum, on Regent Street, near Piccadilly Circus; the salesman, a
perfect gentleman, brought you three coats to try ("just that you get
the feel, Sir"): pure wool (very heavy), wool-cashmere (not to bad) and
pure cashmere (shall I say a feather?). The salesman concluded:
"The lighter on your shoulder, Sir, the heavier on your pocket". Was he
ever right! Reason (i.e. your wife and wallet) finally prevailed.]<br />
<br />
The piercing cold of January brings you back to reality.<br />
<br />
The Yeoman, perched on a small pedestal, his back against the Bell
Tower, explains that, in ancient times, the people sentenced to death
(of whom a
few celebrities like Thomas More and a Queen or two) were brought from
the Bell Tower to the scaffold on Tower Hill (Trinity Square today)
where
thousands of people awaited the execution. Upon arriving at the
scaffold,
the convict had one final decision to make: he had to pay for the
sharpening of the ax that would cut off his head; the more he paid, the
sharper the ax ("The heavier on your pocket, the lighter on your
neck."). And the Yeoman tells us of a convict who had to receive five
strokes from the ax before his head would fall off. Brr!!<br />
<br />
At that time, you were executed for a yes or a no; one simple
denunciation
and you were beheaded, to the great pleasure of the people gathered.<br />
<br />
Catherine Howard, fifth and flirtatious wife of Henry the VIII, was
beheaded.<br />
<br />
Six years earlier, Anne Boleyn, second wife of the same Henry the VIII,
sentenced to death for adultery, chose to be beheaded, kneeling,
standing upright, in the interior ward of the fortress. From her room
in the Bell Tower, she could hear the executioner sharpening his sword.<br />
<br />
Bridge, like those ancient times, has Kings and Queens. But bridge has
added a modern twist: Aces and trumps! Aces and trumps are so
democratic, their first function is to behead Kings and Queens. When
you are declarer, you look for clues that will point towards the
location of Kings and Queens; and sometimes, a betrayal can be very
helpful.<br />
<br />
A declarer who has found all the clues, who has taken advantage of a
betrayal (and sometimes two), can become a bloody executioner.<br />
<br />
Poor Queens of the ancient times, they didn't stand a chance with
Knaves so unfaithful they would give their Queens away.<br />
<br />
At the Young Chelsea Bridge Club, in London, England, what strikes you
first
is the youth of the players; the second thing, they're all drinking
Bloody Maries (nickname of Mary Tudor, for the reason you can gather).<br />
<br />
In 4th seat, you open 1 ♠ with :<br />
<br />
<iframe height="200" src="http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=SAT97XHXXDJ8XXCAK&d=w&v=o&b=8&a=PPP1S2H3HP3S" width="120"></iframe><br />
<br />
3<span style="color: red;">♥</span>is a limit-raise.
Your hand is not very exciting so you bid 3♠.<br />
<br />
The lead is the Ace of heart and the sight of the dummy does not fill
you with joy, your partner, as always, consistent with her optimism : <br />
<br />
<iframe height="200" src="http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?sn=Declarer&s=SAT97XHXXDJ8XXCAK&nn=Dummy&n=SKXXHKQTDQXXCT8XX&d=w&v=o&b=8" width="120"></iframe><br />
<br />
After the heart Ace, West plays the club Jack, this surely looks like a
betrayal. You take your Ace. Small spade from your hand, the Jack from
West (second betrayal already?), King from dummy and small from East.
Those Knaves are surely
unfaithful, they have told you everything.<br />
<br />
Spade from dummy, small from East, 10 from you hand, club from West.<br />
<br />
West has therefore one spade, 2 clubs, 5 or 6 hearts; he has the Jack
of spade, the Ace of heart (probably with the Jack), the club Jack, but
not AK of diamond, that would give him 13-14 points, he would have open
the bidding.<br />
<br />
You cash the club King and West pitches a heart.<br />
<br />
Betrayed by their Knaves, the two black Queens are with East.<br />
<br />
You play a small heart towards the Queen, East following. King of
heart, East follows again. East's and West's original hands are now
open books (almost):<br />
<br />
<img alt="hand diagram 1" src="http://doc.bridgebase.com/lobbynews/bbostories/Photos/queens1" /><br />
<br />
West has made an overcall at the two level, but did not open; if he had
had the Ace of diamond, maybe he would have opened... maybe. An idea
starts to take form: if..., it would be funny, a bit macabre and so...
"bloody historical"!<br />
<br />
You were a declarer looking for clues, the enemy Knaves have betrayed,
you must now become an executioner, the two Queens in the Bell Tower
must be beheaded for a new Queen to be crowned. The faithful Knave in
your hand will
carry the message of her soon-to-be coronation.<br />
<br />
You play a spade from dummy, small from East, the 9 from you and West
pitches a diamond. Ace of spade from your hand and Anne Boleyn (Queen
of spade) falls under your sword.<br />
<br />
The stage is set: small diamond from your hand, West hesitates a bit
and plays... the King; with an imperceptible smile, you duck in
dummy... and the Ace from
East decapitates the King.<br />
<br />
What is this sudden and thundering noise? The three ton gate at the
entrance of the Bell Tower has just fallen with the Ace of diamond, the
death sentence was pronounced. This is the end position:<br />
<br />
<img alt="hand diagram 2" src="http://doc.bridgebase.com/lobbynews/bbostories/Photos/queens2" /><br />
<br />
Catherine Howard will not enter the Palace of Henry the VIII. Locked in
the Bell Tower, she can see Mary Tudor, all dressed up in bloody red,
waiting for
her crowning; the poor Catherine can only choose the moment of her
death: she can
come down right now and be beheaded by the executioner (the faithful
Knave will then carry the news to Mary Tudor); or Catherine can
postpone her execution by sending first her little companions to their
death: on the 13th trick, her head will
fall anyway.<br />
<br />
The young Englishman in the East position ponders, wriggles about in
his chair; slowly, you take your Bloody Mary to your lips, and put it
back down on the table. Mechanically, you slide your cards one on top
of the other, as if sharpening them.<br />
<br />
The young man looks at you, a bit annoyed; you smile back at him,
understanding, like an executioner.<br />
<br />Bernard Marcouxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01266926093375033789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110196181036152836.post-37192150885518330502014-04-24T00:41:00.001-07:002014-04-24T00:41:55.568-07:00The Heaven of BridgeDo you think there is a heaven of bridge? <br>
<br>
Do you believe bridge gods exist somewhere?<br>
<br>
I, for one, think yes. <br>
<br>
But not a heaven with a single God: first of all, that God would surely
be a man, a real macho not funny at all, who
would spend his time bragging. No, I am thinking more of a heaven like
the Greeks had, with many gods, men, women,
all happy and very interested in... you know, a heaven where the gods
would cheerfully cheat on their spouse. Zeus
was the master in that domain, seducing all women, mortal or divine.<br>
<br>
So, in my bridge heaven, the most prestigious God, and the less
understood, is certainly <span style="font-style: italic;">God
Squeeze</span>. <br>
<br>
<span style="font-style: italic;">Squeeze</span> is
a bit like Zeus in that he slept with everyone and has produced
innumerable bastards: Simplesqueeze,
Doublesqueeze, Triplesqueeze, Non-simultaneous-squeeze (rather twisted,
you don't think?), Squeeze-without-the-count, Trumpsqueeze,
CompoundSqueeze, Crisscrosssqueeze, etc. <br>
<br>
The immense majority of players don't hang out with the Squeeze family;
they find them too complicated. You have all
these conditions before you can begin: Do this, don't do that, duck
this, rectify the count, etc. It is hell. <br>
<br>
In the emphatic gibberish of today's psychologists, Squeezes would
surely be identified as a dysfunctional family. <br>
<br>
Please note that squeezes are a bit like those rare diseases that you
learn about in medical schools: they rarely
happen. Bridge is the same thing: squeezes are rare. <br>
<br>
The only thing you have to do at bridge is to count to... 13.<br>
<br>
Another God is called <span style="font-style: italic;">Elimination</span>.
<br>
<br>
He is not funny: you're always on diet, you always have to eliminate,
eliminate, eliminate, it's... drastic. Elimination
might be necessary anytime during a hand, at the beginning, in the
middle or at the end. This God is very useful and
easy to understand: all you have to do is to cash your tricks, one
after the other, no finesse, no ducking, Ace, King,
Queen, bang, bang, bang, that's all.<br>
<br>
Next is a Goddess that nobody, but nobody, understands: <span
style="font-style: italic;">Goddess Lead</span>. <br>
<br>
She is so complicated, you always go wrong with her. You try to be
really careful, but it is never the right moment,
never the right suit, never the right card, etc., so much that some
people say she is the patron saint of women (I just
repeat what I heard here, don't kill the messenger). Several people
have tried to write books about her, the best ones,
the worst ones, but sometimes the best is the worst, and the worst is
the best. In a word, Goddess Lead is
unpredictable, capricious, always changing:<br>
<br>
"No, not there!"<br>
"... "<br>
"Not there either!"<br>
"... "<br>
"That you've already done yesterday."<br>
"Yes, but you liked it yesterday."<br>
"Well, I do not like it today!"<br>
<br>
If you ask me, we men also could write a catalogue, and it would be
very, very thick.<br>
<br>
To sum it all, Goddess Lead is simply unbearable. Indeed the majority
of players want so much to avoid her that they
bid one more: they would rather play the contract and go one down than
having to find Miss Lead. In fact, she is the
point L of bridge. And she is so pretentious, she thinks she's a star,
a prima donna, because she is always the first
to be seen. As soon as she appears, she begins to hop around and wave
and shout: <br>
<br>
"It's me, it's me, look at me!"<br>
<br>
Isn't that REALLY annoying? It is so tiring that majority of players
have settled the matter: they do not even look at
her. That will teach her! <br>
<br>
Another God is called <span style="font-style: italic;">Endplay</span>.
<br>
<br>
The vast majority of players avoid him, as they have only one
objective: to keep the hand.<br>
<br>
They do not understand that they can use the opponents to play suits in
their place.<br>
<br>
Losing the hand is equivalent for them as to lose their honour. If they
have to make 9 tricks, they want to make them
9 in a row. They are the over-eaters of bridge. They don't understand
that a bridge hand is like a meal with 3, 4 or 5
services, with pauses to digest, reflect. <br>
<br>
They are bulimic: the first 4 or 5 tricks go quickly, like at
McDonald's. At trick 6, they begin to slow down, 7 is more difficult
and 8 marks the end. They lose the hand and go down.<br>
<br>
Endplay's name says he arrives only at the end of the hand, but
sometimes he appears at the first trick. When that
happens, we have Endplay-on-Lead. Well, that is a sight. Can you
imagine that ? Take the kids out of the room,
hurry.<br>
<br>
There is another God, very quiet, not spectacular at all, very
discreet, not snob, not complicated, called <span
style="font-style: italic;">Count</span>,
much more practical than <span style="font-style: italic;">Squeeze</span>.
In fact, you need him all the time. Sometimes you hear players talking
about
him.<br>
<br>
"Why did you play spades? <span style="font-style: italic;">Count</span>
was telling you to play clubs."<br>
<br>
There you have it: <span style="font-style: italic;">Count</span>
talks to you, he is there, at your service, always ready to help and,
if you don't use him, well, it's
your fault. If your make friend with this God, bridge becomes almost a
child's game. Counting requires a little effort,
but its assistance is invaluable.<br>
<br>
In the sky of bridge, you see, there are several gods, and most of them
do nothing (that is the definition of a God job:
having nothing to do) except <span style="font-style: italic;">Lead</span>
with a full-time job. As for the others, you can see it day after day
at the bridge table, the
majority of players do not use them.<br>
<br>
There is one last God, a Goddess in fact, extremely popular, so popular
she is the Celine Dion of Olympus.<br>
<br>
Everyone sings her songs, everyone buys magazines to hear about her
life. <br>
<br>
Do you have an idea, do you know who she is? But the <span
style="font-style: italic;">Goddess Finesse</span>, of
course.<br>
<br>
<span style="font-style: italic;">Finesse</span> is
really the most popular, the more attractive, alluring, charming,
attractive, you could use the entire
dictionary to describe her.<br>
<br>
The vast majority of players spend their time running after Finesse,
everybody loves her, they never have enough of her:
Finesse here, Finesse there. They do not understand that Finesse should
not be relied upon. <br>
<br>
The good players are doing everything not to ask for her help, because
she is not reliable: she gives you a chance
out of two, 50% ( sometimes less), and that is understandable: she must
be exhausted, poor Finesse, running
everywhere and without judgement. For my part, I think she suffers of a
chronic burn-out.<br>
<br>
Other gods offer much higher chances of success: <span
style="font-style: italic;">Count</span> can offer
65%, 80%, even 100% sometimes; <span style="font-style: italic;">Endplay</span>
can assure you of 100%. But we must face the brutal fact: bad players
believe they love to win but, basically, they would
rather lose. <span style="font-style: italic;">Finesse</span>
is so beautiful, so exciting, so sexy... <br>
<br>
You are playing 6<span style="color: red;">♥</span>.
Lead is ♣K<br>
<br>
<iframe
src="http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?sn=You&s=SAJ7HAJ8XXDATXCAJ&nn=Dummy&n=SKT9XXHQXXXDKXCXX&d=n&v=o&b=1"
height="200" width="120"></iframe><br>
<br>
A loser in spades, one in clubs and at least one at heart, but nothing
is lost. <br>
<br>
You win the club Ace in your hand. What is the first God who must
enlist? Goddess <span style="font-style: italic;">Finesse</span>,
of course, in hearts.<br>
<br>
Not for pleasure, a mandatory finesse is not the same as an avoidable
finesse, here you have no choice. You play,
therefore, a small diamond to the King, and a heart from dummy. Small,
Jack from you and small on your left. Phew! <br>
<br>
Goddess Finesse is very nice this time. You now play the Ace of heart
and everyone follows. Re-phew! Voila. <br>
<br>
After these 4 tricks, this contract is 100%, you cannot fail. The spade
finesse, you say, may miss? What finesse in
spades? Send Goddess Finesse home, we no longer need her. By the way,
good players do not like to be seen too often with her, she has a bad
reputation and they might be accused of bad dating.<br>
<br>
After Goddess Finesse, you should now call God <span
style="font-style: italic;">Elimination</span>. Indeed
you have already started, you have eliminated
the hearts of enemy hands. Now you have to remove the diamonds from
your hand. Go ahead, therefore: Ace of
diamonds and ruff a diamond. Here's what remains: <br>
<br>
<iframe
src="http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?sn=You&s=SAJ7H8XXDCJ&nn=Dummy&n=SKT9XHQXDCX&d=n&v=o&b=1"
height="200" width="120"></iframe><br>
<br>
Finesse in spades ? Didn't we send her home ? I told you, she cannot
help you, she can only harm you. She will
tell you that you have to guess who has the Queen of Spades. Do you
believe that it is really helpful? In fact, she
could make you fail.<br>
<br>
You should rather use <span style="font-style: italic;">Endplay</span>.
First he will be pleased you called for him in the middle of the hand.<br>
<br>
Think about it: if you play clubs, eliminating that suit your hands,
opponents will have no more heart, you will have no
more diamonds, no more clubs, and opponents will have to play spades
for you or they will give you Ruff and Sluff,
frequent accomplice of Endplay.<br>
<br>
Why guess spades when opponents can do it for you? That's what the God
Endplay can do for you: he will force
West to play spades for you. If West plays a diamond or a club, you
will ruff in dummy, discard the spade loser from
your hand and register + 1430.<br>
<br>
You give one trick to win 5. If this is not a good return on investment!<br>
<br>
Speaking of investment, I'll give you a tip: my wife and I have
invested for years in the same stocks and we have
never lost a penny. At the end of the month, our statement is always
higher than what we anticipated. Have you guessed what we invest in?
It's easy, it's Visa and MasterCard!<br>
<br>
Do not be afraid to invoke all the gods of the bridge, forget about the
beautiful goddess Finesse, do not use her unless you're really, REALLY,
in
need. Rather ask help from everyone else, they are kind and
understanding, and they are there to help you really.<br>
<br>
As for Goddess <span style="font-style: italic;">Lead</span>
(and stocks), do like me... endure.<br>
<br>
Bernard Marcouxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01266926093375033789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110196181036152836.post-86078872937107764592014-04-14T22:55:00.001-07:002014-04-14T22:55:29.665-07:00The Story of Tables and Chairs In the world of bridge, everyone knows there are tables and chairs. <br />
<br />
But did you know tables look down on chairs ? <br />
<br />
Tables are snob, that's something I've learned in a recent tournament.
One afternoon, I played in a 3-way and my team lost. That evening, a
player asked another player (member of the team that had beat us) :<br />
<br />
"Who did you beat this afternoon?"<br />
"8 chairs," was the response.<br />
<br />
That is when I learned that tables don't have a very high opinion of
chairs.<br />
<br />
Well, the night after that, this TABLE arrived at my chair (what can I
say ?).<br />
<br />
First board: <br />
TABLE's partner opened 1<span style="color: red;">♦</span>
Precision, and all passed. <br />
My chair lead a diamond and we collected 12 out of 18 for down 2.<br />
<br />
Second board: <br />
My chair opened 1NT and it went pass, pass, 2<span style="color: red;">♥</span> (hearts and spades). <br />
I passed, the TABLE passed and my partner doubled. The chairs defended
well, sitting on their tricks (what can one do to a
chair ?) and earned 16/18.<br />
<br />
Third board: <br />
TABLE's partner tried a curve ball that didn't curve. How can a flat
table think of throwing a curve ball?<br />
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?sn=SouthChair&s=SAT6HAQ74D6CAJ974&wn=Pitcher&w=SJ52H3DK92CKQT632&nn=NorthChair&n=SQ7HK852DAT543C85&en=TABLE&e=SK9843HJT96DQJ87C&d=s&v=o&b=3&a=1C2S%21%28%21%29D4C4HPP4SD5CP5SDPPP" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
When the curve ball pitcher bid 5♣, the TABLE, who should have passed
on 4<span style="color: red;">♥</span>, unless he
takes his partner for a chair, took a very
aggressive tone. With the years, chairs have been able to understand
the TABLE's language.<br />
<br />
"You have no right to bid. Once you bid 2♠, it's my show, you're out of
the picture."<br />
<br />
The chairs collected 15/18, for a total of 43 out of 54 matchpoints.<br />
<br />
The <b>TABLE</b> left his chair (oops!) without saying a
word. A <b>TABLE</b> hates looking like a chair.<br />
<br />
Chairs of the world, beware: don't let one victory go to your head and
make you think you are a TABLE.<br />
<br />Bernard Marcouxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01266926093375033789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110196181036152836.post-68310967960085023732014-04-01T05:16:00.000-07:002014-04-01T05:16:01.772-07:00Coral Pink Sand Dunes, UtahIn southern Utah, there is a desert where the sand is all coral.<br />
<br />
How can the sand be uniformly coral? How is it that there are no
pebbles of other colors?<br />
<br />
Because the wind chooses them. Yes!<br />
<br />
In search of grains, the wind ignores all the other grains, collecting
only coral ones. Blowing back in its desert, the wind will drop coral
grains and carry away all other grains.
Amazing, is not it?<br />
<br />
What are the functions of the sand and the wind in the desert? <br />
<br />
Cover everything, absolutely everything that tries to go beyond the
surface. <br />
<br />
Are there any plants that still grow in this desert? Yes.<br />
<br />
Some plants have developed a growth mode quite appropriate in the
circumstances: they try to grow faster than the sand takes to recover
them. Fascinating!<br />
<br />
At bridge, in a doubled contract, declarer is like a plant trying to
grow in the desert. The two defenders are the wind, unifying their
efforts to submerge declarer with sand. They must choose their actions
like the wind chooses the sand pebbles: they have to ignore those who
are too heavy, let pass those who are too light and take only the ones
who will drown the overbidders.<br />
<br />
You have:<br />
<iframe height="200" src="http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?wn=You&w=SA843HQ8432D3C854&d=w&v=o&a=P1D%2811-14%29P1SPPDP?" width="120"></iframe><br />
<br />
Partner's delayed double says: Opening hand with diamonds, short in
spades. Do you pass for penalty? The pebble is too heavy, no? Your
spades are not strong enough to flood declarer. So, with discipline,
you bid 2<span style="color: red;">♥</span>. But...
help is on the way. People really don't like to pass.<br />
<br />
<iframe height="100" src="http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?d=w&v=o&a=P1D%2811-14%29P1SPPDP2H2SPP?" width="120"></iframe><br />
<br />
The wind is blowing harder now. What do you do ? First, you have to
decide if you make 2<span style="color: red;">♥</span>.
Most probably. So, you are entitled to +110 or +140. Declarer is
vulnerable, down one not doubled is only +100. So you have to double to
collect +200, the <b>Kiss of Death</b> at bridge.
Opponents
have decided to settle in the middle of the desert, in spite of
warnings from your partner. He told them: nothing breaks, all the
points are behind opener. But people don't listen. So you double.
Declarer should
not survive in these conditions.
<br />
<br />
What is your lead ? Your singleton, or a heart ? You decide to lead a
heart to force declarer. <br />
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?wn=You&w=SA843HQ8432D3C854&nn=Dummy&n=SQ76HATDQT65CKJ93&d=w&v=o&a=P1D%2811-14%29P1SPPDP2H2SPPDPPP" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
Declarer wins the Ace in dummy and plays back a heart. <br />
<br />
Partner takes the King and, for lack of a better return, plays the ♠9.
Declarer plays small. Do you take this grain of sand ? Is it the right
color ? You decide it is not. Why not duck and let declarer play? <br />
<br />
Declarer wins the Queen in dummy and plays a club. <br />
<br />
Partner puts the ♣10, declarer wins the ♣A and plays a diamond. You
play your singleton. Partner wins the diamond and plays back a second
spade. Declarer plays the ♠J. <br />
<br />
Do you win this second pebble? No. What will you play after ? By
ducking, you keep control of trumps. Very important.<br />
<br />
Declarer, almost engulfed now under the sand, replays a diamond. You
pitch a heart and partner wins the King. He then plays the diamond Ace
and another diamond for you
to ruff. You finally play the Ace of spades. There are no more spades
in dummy, so you can play a heart.<br />
<br />
Declarer will still lose a club for +500 and a top.<br />
<br />
In Coral Pink Sand Dunes, everything is back to normal. The wind and
the sand have recovered everything.<br />
<br />
The four hands: <br />
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?sn=Declarer&s=SKJT5HJ7D9874CA76&wn=You&w=SA843HQ8432D3C854&nn=Dummy&n=SQ76HATDQT65CKJ93&en=Partner&e=S92HK965DAKJ2CQT2" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />Bernard Marcouxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01266926093375033789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110196181036152836.post-11841643792688849392014-03-20T06:07:00.000-07:002014-03-20T06:07:31.388-07:00L'invitation au voyage"Dreams! always dreams! And the
more the heart is ambitious and delicate, the more the dreams will move
it away from the possible. Each man carries in him his own amount of
natural opium, secreted and renewed and, from birth to death, how many
hours can we count that are filled by positive pleasure, by successful
and decided action?"</i><br>
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 40px;">From <i
style="font-style: italic;"> L' Invitation au voyage,</i>
a poem by Charles Baudelaire.<br>
</div>
<br>
Why do we play bridge, if not for this perfect hand which will take us
elsewhere, <span style="font-style: italic;">there</span>?
Who will take us out of the daily greyness and make us <span
style="font-style: italic;">really live</span>, not
simply exist? Does paradise exist at bridge? The legend says it can be
found only in these hands reported by newspapers, where players, aided
by exotic bidding, reach a grand slam and, after the lead, spread out
their cards, stating they will take all 13 tricks on triple squeeze,
convincing us still once again that we are simple mortals compared to
these heroes without fear and reproach. Is there really a paradise of
bridge?<br>
<br>
It is a Monday evening like any other at your club. The game is pretty
boring when you open hand number 9.<br>
<br>
<iframe
src="http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?wn=You&w=S42HAT87DQT96CJ82&en=Partner&d=n&v=o&b=1&a=P1D1H1NPP2HP"
height="200" width="120"></iframe><br>
<br>
What is this small shiver? Are you cold? No. You feel however as before
leaving for a trip. You pass, sensing all the same that something is
about to happen.<br>
<br>
<iframe
src="http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?en=Partner&d=n&v=o&b=1&a=P1D1H1NPP2HPPDP?"
height="100" width="120"></iframe><br>
<br>
North passes and your partner... doubles (Hand maximum, partner, short
hearts). In the greyness which rises a little, you look briefly at her.
She too seems already elsewhere.<br>
<br>
<i style="font-style: italic;"> It is a region which
resembles you, where all is beautiful, rich, quiet and honest (...)
where the life is soft to breathe, where happiness is married with
silence. </i><br>
<br>
You pass on the double.<br>
<br>
<iframe
src="http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?wn=You&w=S42HAT87DQT96CJ82&nn=Dummy&n=SQ73H65DK87Ck7654&d"
height="300" width="400"></iframe><br>
<br>
You lead the 4 of spade. Your partner gains the first trick with the
Jack and returns... a heart.<br>
<br>
You look at her once again, this time with admiration. Is this possible?<br>
<br>
<i style="font-style: italic;"> Yes, it is necessary to go
there to breathe, dream and lengthen the hours by the infinite of the
feelings. </i> <br>
<br>
South plays the heart Jack and you duck. You know he has 4 spades,
where can he put them? Your partner understood all that by her heart
return: Let him play,
she says. After the heart Jack, declarer plays the diamond 2. All awake
now by the brilliant play of your partner, you insert the 9. Even if
you play reverse count, here you must think and play of bridge, not
simply count stupidly. Declarer
ducks your diamond 9, your partner playing the 3 to indicate 4 cards.
You play your 2 of spade. Your partner wins with the 10 and returns...
a heart!<br>
<br>
<i style="font-style: italic;"> A true country of Feast, I
say you, where all is rich, clean and shining. </i><br>
<br>
What beauty! What grace! The thought that South repeated a 5-card suit
doesn't hit
you, fascinated that you are by the angel sitting in front of you. You
take the trump King with the Ace. Now is the time to count: your
partner has 4 spades, 2 hearts, 4 diamonds and 3 clubs. Declarer is
cooked. You play the Queen of diamond, to pin declarer's hypothetical
Jack. Declarer ducks in dummy and… your partner takes the Ace! Would
she be the perfect partner?<br>
<br>
<i style="font-style: italic;"> Incomparable flower, found
again tulip, allegorical dahlia, it is there, is it not, in this
beautiful country, so calm and so full or dreams that we should go to
live and flourish. </i><br>
<br>
She plays Ace and King of spades, declarer follows, powerless, while
you throw your 2 diamonds. She returns diamond and you will make
another heart trick for +500 and a top.<br>
<br>
<iframe
src="http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?wn=&w=S42HAT87DQT96CJ82&nn=&n=SQ73H65DK87Ck7654&e=SAKJ10H93DA543CQ103&s=S9865HKQJ42DJ2CA9"
height="300" width="400"></iframe><br>
<br>
Yes, paradise exists, perfection too. But it is not a bridge hand that
creates them. It is you and your partner, when you are on the same
wavelength, when your thoughts communicate, when you see the sequence
and the order of play, the tricks it is necessary
to take and those it is necessary to let pass, when it is necessary to
ruff and when it
is necessary to discard.<br>
<br>
At that moment, you form only one thought, only one being, a real pair,
and you travel towards this country of Feast, <i
style="font-style: italic;"> this singular country, higher
than the others, like art is superior to Nature, where Nature is
reformed by the dream, where it is corrected, embellished.</i>
<br>
<br>
A bridge hand cannot take you to paradise. Your partner, yes!<br>
<br>
<i style="font-style: italic;"> "A musician wrote the
Invitation to a waltz; but who will
compose the Invitation to a journey, so that we can offer it to the
loved woman?"</i> <br>
<br>
I have composed this small piece for my partner, France, my wife, my
black tulip and my blue dahlia!<br>
<br>
Bernard Marcouxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01266926093375033789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110196181036152836.post-42762798465286015662014-02-27T22:27:00.001-08:002014-02-27T22:27:42.061-08:00The thrill of thinking aheadYou have:<br />
<br />
<iframe height="100" src="http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=sqxxxhk98daktxxca" width="120"></iframe><br />
<br />
And partner opens 1<span style="color: red;">♥</span>!<br />
<br />
<iframe height="100" src="http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?d=n&a=1hp2dp2sp?" width="120"></iframe><br />
<br />
Wow‼ You were planning to fit in hearts and now partner tells
you she has also spades. Question: is 2♠ a reverse
? Depends who you ask.<br />
<br />
For partner and me, it is only showing shape. Opener might
have extras, we will know later.<br />
<br />
So now, what do you do? Do you give fit in hearts or
spades? Everybody knows 4-4 fit is better, because on the 5-3
fit, the 2 extra cards will serve to discard losers for the other
hand. So you go ahead and bid 3♠. <br />
<br />
<iframe height="100" src="http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?d=n&a=1hp2dp2sp3sp4hp?" width="120"></iframe><br />
<br />
What is partner doing? She is saying she has a nice hand, but
no control in clubs. As you have all suits under control, you
KCB. <br />
<br />
<iframe height="100" src="http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?d=n&a=1hp2dp2sp3sp4hp4np5d%280-3%29p?" width="120"></iframe><br />
<br />
Now it hits you. What does hit you? Which card
would you now like to know about in partner's hand?
The Heart Queen. Does she have the heart Queen? If
you could know that, you would be able to bid 7. But
how? You have discussed about asking bids, but you are not on
firm grounds in that department. If you bid now 6<span style="color: red;">♥</span>, is it
an asking bid, or to play?<br />
<br />
So, you settle for 6♠. Now let's go back for a bit and see
what we could have done better.<br />
<br />
After 2♠, you were so excited by this double fit that you lost your
concentration. What did you do wrong? With spade as
trumps, as we saw, you will ask keys, but how will you know if partner
has the Queen of hearts? How can we find that out?
Well, Eric Kokish once wrote an article about a hand where he set a
false trump suit in order to collect the information he needed in
another suit. I did that also once, wrote an article about it
with this title: <span style="font-style: italic;">Hommage
to Eric Kokish</span>. Alas, I don't have
that article anymore (I am pretty sloppy with things and quite lazy
also).<br />
<br />
So lets go back to our hands and instead of 3♠, let's bid 3<span style="color: red;">♥</span>.<br />
<br />
<iframe height="100" src="http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?d=n&a=1hp2dp2sp3h%28you%20clever%20devil%29p3s%28cue%29p4s%28kickback%29p5d%282+Q%29p5s%28king%20ask%29p5n%28%21sK%29p7S" width="120"></iframe><br />
<br />
As I say all the time, we tend to play too fast at bridge.
I once lost a chess tournament game by playing too fast.
What's so special about that, you are asking? It was a game
by <span style="font-style: italic;">correspondence</span>!<br />
<br />
In bridge, the pleasure, the exhilaration, is not in the result, it is
in the journey. So take your time: think, think and think
again before making a bid or a play. Enjoy the thrill of
thinking ahead, and savour the surprise of your partner when you will
put her in 7♠!<br />
<br />Bernard Marcouxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01266926093375033789noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110196181036152836.post-38897896256895388692014-02-20T13:37:00.001-08:002014-02-20T13:37:55.260-08:00My Dog Shawnee and the Queen of Diamonds<br />
West opens 1<span style="color: red;">♥</span>, your partner passes and East also. You have:<br />
<br />
<iframe height="100" src="http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=SAQ72HAJ4DKJ93C94&d=n&v=o&b=1" width="120"></iframe><br />
<br />
Have you discussed with your partner balancing bids in 4th seat? No? Well,
you have a lot of work to do.<br />
<br />
Let's say you reopen with 1NT, 11-16 over a major opening, with or without a
stopper (nothing's perfect). West rebids 2 <span style="color: red;">♥</span> and
your partner doubles, negative. What is your bid? <br />
<br />
<iframe height="100" src="http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?d=w&v=o&b=8&a=1HPP1N2HDP?" width="120"></iframe><br />
<br />
As your range (11-16) is quite large, you have now to bid your hand to the fullest. So you jump to 3♠, showing 4 cards and a maximum. Your partner bids 4♠ and everybody passes.<br />
<br />
West leads the heart king.<br />
<br />
<iframe height="200" src="http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?sn=You&s=SAQ72HAJ4DKJ93C94&nn=Dummy&n=SK83H62DA862CKJ72&d=n&v=o&b=1" width="120"></iframe><br />
<br />
You swear silently against your partner (you will understand later why silently). Why did't she (yes, it is my wife) bid 3NT? But now is not the time for recriminations, you have to make 10 tricks. <br />
<br />
You duck the lead and LHO plays back a small heart.<br />
<br />
He was end played on the lead with most probably KQ of hearts, the Queen of diamonds
and AQ of clubs. <br />
<br />
He could have played back a spade, but he didn't want to squeeze his partner's trump
holding (he doesn't know your spades are anaemic). <br />
<br />
You win with your heart Jack and... pause. Count! <br />
<br />
West has repeated his hearts, so he has 6. Spades are probably 4-2. So East has 4 spades
and 2 hearts (if he has 5 spades, it will be verrrrrry difficult). <br />
<br />
He will always make a spade trick, so why not give it to him now? But in a peculiar way! <br />
<br />
You are not the best player of the club for nothing. My idol Julius Caesar used to say: "Better to be 1st in Ste-Adele than 2nd in Buenos Aires!" <br />
<br />
He was not talking about bridge, but we can transpose and use those famous sentences in
other circumstances, can't we?<br />
<br />
You play a club. <br />
<br />
West jumps with his Ace and plays back a 3rd heart, ruffed by East, killing your Ace.
But that heart Ace was useless anyway. <br />
<br />
Opponents must believe you have lost your mind (your wife and partner looks absolutely
certain you are crazy), but you are not the best player of that club for nothing, I repeat!
They don't know it yet, but you are in the process of counting the hand. So you sacrificed
the Ace of hearts for the big picture, opponents being reduced, in your superior mind, to
mere pawns in your brilliant plan of making the contract. <br />
<br />
After his ruff, East, endplayed now, plays back a club; small, Queen and King from dummy.<br />
<br />
How will you play the diamonds? <br />
<br />
First you have to play the spades and clubs to obtain the count. <br />
<br />
Small spade to your Ace, Queen of spades (West had 2, like you pictured) and a 3rd spade to dummy's King. <br />
<br />
Then Jack of clubs, both following, and small club ruffed, West pitching a heart on the 4th club. <br />
<br />
The hands were then:<br />
<br />
<img src="http://doc.bridgebase.com/lobbynews/bbostories/Photos/Hand1.jpg" /><br />
<br />
The position is now: <br />
<br />
<img src="http://doc.bridgebase.com/lobbynews/bbostories/Photos/hand2.jpg" /><br />
<br />
The Queen of diamond is the card you have to find now. <br />
<br />
You play against club players who open majors with 9 points and minors with 14,
and who never alert! They often play 70%, but never against you! Enough with the hesitations and bad mouthing. <br />
<br />
Where is that Queen of diamonds? <br />
<br />
Barry Crane, the world's greatest matchpoint player (May he rest in peace.
He was assassinated 2 or 3 months after calling the director against my wife.
She assures me it was not her. Now I always swear silently, as you saw previously,
that is why I am still alive. You live and you learn, they say. In my case, You
learn and you live), so Barry Crane said the reason for his successes was called Oscar,
a mythical bird that would stand on his left shoulder and tell him how the cards lie. <br />
<br />
Well, in my case, it is not a bird, but my Airedale dog, Shawnee, who sits down
on my left (not on my shoulder, she weighs 75 pounds!) and who, depending on the
card I am looking for, puts her left paw on my lap (telling me the card is on my
left) or her right paw (I let you conclude). <br />
<br />
Either that, or she wants a cookie! :)
<br />
<br />
She can also push me with her nose: twice, the card is on my left; once, well... you should know by now. Either that, or she needs to go out.<br />
<br />
All this nonsense to tell you I don't know where is the damn Queen of diamond. <br />
<br />
I know West has 2 diamonds and East, 3. So 3 chances for the Queen to be on my right,
and 2 on my left. <br />
<br />
But these scoundrels open majors with 9 points, and weak 2's with 5 to 8, but
sometimes they have 7 cards and 11 points. <br />
<br />
No alert, ever.<br />
<br />
I give a look to Shawnee, she looks back at me with teary eyes, then closes her
eyes, opens them again, looks to the side. It is obvious she is at a complete
loss: no paw, no push with the nose. These players are so unpredictable (even
them sometimes, they don't know what they are doing) that she is mystified.
Poor me! I am all alone. Even my dog is abandoning me.<br />
<br />
I have been thinking for at least 2 minutes, torn between 2 lines of play.<br />
<br />
Then I see how I will play those diamonds. A clue? It is worth what it is worth
but I want those players to suffer, I want to give them false hopes and then, at
the instant they will think they have me, crush them (the hopes, not the players).
Did I tell you I was the best player of that club? Yes? Just in case you forgot.<br />
<br />
So I play the 9 of diamonds from hand. Has West hesitated a bit? He follows with
this microscopic slowness that looks too quick (WOW!) and you know then you got him.
Ace from dummy, small from East.<br />
<br />
Small diamond from dummy, small to your right, King from hand, QUEEN!!!<br />
<br />
Wouf, wouf, says Shawnee!!<br />
<br />
<img alt="Shawnee" src="http://doc.bridgebase.com/lobbynews/bbostories/Photos/shawnee" />
Bernard Marcouxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01266926093375033789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110196181036152836.post-76769092539225309222014-02-09T14:25:00.003-08:002014-02-09T14:25:25.962-08:00Man about universe (II)In 1996, I had entitled this way an article that won the prestigious Bols Bridge Press
Award (<a href="http://webutil.bridgebase.com/v2/news_fetch.php?id=1477" target="new">Man about universe</a>). The year before, I had made the final with
<a href="http://webutil.bridgebase.com/v2/news_fetch.php?id=1600" target="new">The Apple, the Law and the Principle</a>
that was also published in BBO News.
<br />
<br />
A man about universe is penetrating, profound, contrary to the man about
town who is superficial. The man about universe bridge player sees through appearances, like a poet,
very different from the man about town bridge player who takes the 1st finesse he can and... goes down.<br />
<br />
The following hand was played by Nicolas L'Ecuyer in the finals of the Canadian Championships,
against Eric Kokish, Number One bridge coach in the world.<br />
<br />
Your partner opens 1♣, Kokish on your right bids 1<span style="color: red;">♥</span> and you have:<br />
<br />
<iframe height="100" src="http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=SKTHKQJ52D73CK732&d=n&v=o&b=1" width="120"></iframe><br />
<br />
As the finals of a National Championships are not for timid souls, you jump to 3NT and all pass.<br />
<br />
<iframe height="200" src="http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?sn=L'Ecuyer&s=SKTHKQJ52D73CK732&nn=Dummy&n=S852HA96DKJ4CAQ96&d=n&v=o&b=1" width="120"></iframe><br />
<br />
George Mittelman, Canadian Champion and World Mixed Pairs Champion, leads the 4 of
spades (attitude lead). Kokish wins the Ace and plays back the 7, showing probably 3 cards.
You win the King and... you have to make the rest, the spades being established.<br />
<br />
You have 8 sure tricks: 1 spade, 4 hearts (your heart spots are not enough to make 5 tricks),
and 3 clubs. You can find the missing 9th trick in clubs if they break 3-2. Even if they split
4-1, if you find J or 10 stiff on your right, you will make 4 tricks. Do you play clubs right
away? All the men about town would, and complain after, if they go down, of their bad luck.<br />
<br />
Nicolas, like all champions, hates to go down in cold contracts and hates even more to play without
thinking, without trying all he can to avoid being forced to guess. The top players never guess,
they count. And if ever they guess, it is because they are forced to, the events force them to guess.
At the crucial moment, when they absolutely have to guess, they then transport themselves into another
dimension, the 4th dimension, reserved to really exceptional players, brilliant, men about universe.<br />
<br />
After winning the 2nd trick with the King of spades, Nicolas cashed his 4 heart tricks,
watching intently Mittelman's discards: 3 diamonds (8, 9 and 10), then the 9 of spades.
Nicolas knew at that moment that Mittelman had 5 spades, and most probably 4 diamonds and 4 clubs.
With 5 diamonds, he could have led that suit. As he led spades, it should be his 5 card suit.<br />
<br />
The more Nicolas cashed his heart tricks, the more Mittelman was finding the situation difficult, if not unbearable.<br />
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?sn=L'Ecuyer&s=SH2D73CK732&wn=Mittelman&w=SQJHDQCJT85&nn=Dummy&n=SHDKJ4CAQ96&en=Kokish&e=S3HTDA652C4&d=n&v=o&b=1" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
Finally Nicolas played his 2 of clubs and Mittelman followed with the 5, in tempo.
Well maybe a tiny too much in tempo, with that forced relaxed way that wants to show:
No problem here. Nicolas knew at that moment Mittelman had 4 clubs and he asked
himself why he didn't discard one.<br />
<br />
Follow closely: Nicolas knew that Mittelman knew that Nicolas could play small club
to the Ace, then club to his King, finding the 4-1 break and pinning the Jack or the
10 stiff with Kokish, if ever that was the case.<br />
<br />
Why didn't he discard a club? Nicolas was asking himself. To put yourself in the
other player's position is one of the top qualities of a champion. So Nicolas put
himself in Mittelman's shoes.<br />
<br />
When he played the 2 of clubs, he knew he was missing J10854 in the suit. He knew
also Mittelman had 4 clubs and Kokish only one. When Mittelman put the 5 of clubs
on the table, Nicolas knew this was a true card, the lowest (Kokish-Mittelman play udca),
and thus, Kokish could have only the... 4. If the 5 is the lowest, then Mittelman's
clubs have to be J1085.<br />
<br />
Nicolas called for the 9, making 4 tricks in the suit and eventually claiming the Canadian Championship.<br />
<br />
Would you say Nicolas was lucky? No, luck doesn't exist at bridge. Nicolas would
tell you that playing the 9 of clubs was a 100% play, that he was taking <i>no risk</i>.<br />
<br />
I told you: great players don't guess, they count. However, in this arithmetic
enter not only the cards, but also all the information floating around the table:
the hand count for sure, but also the way the players stay still or move, their
twitches, their tempo, their will to play in tempo, their determination not to
have twitches, not to hesitate. And, in case of really superior players, we have
to add, I think, this other power, indescribable, non measurable, that we can almost
associate with the instinct of an animal who "smells" the cards.<br />
<br />
Only a man about universe can access this supernatural arithmetic, and has enough
confidence in himself, enough courage to play the way Nicolas played.<br />
<br />
The kibitzers, and maybe Mittelman himself, must have thought Nicolas had seen the cards.
When a player makes a play that prodigious, we first are shocked. Then we might become
a bit irritated, telling ourselves that play was impossible, that he really saw the cards.<br />
<br />
Then, after being forced to admit everything happened correctly and ethically, that
nobody peaked, we feel, I think, a bit of jealousy in front of that amount of intelligence.
And finally, if we are honest, if we can put aside all our mistrustfulness, we cannot help
feeling a profound admiration for the infinitely superior player, and marvel once again
about this magnificent game we play, that gives us sometimes the chance to equal the gods. <br />
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?sn=L'Ecuyer&s=SKTHKQJ52D73CK732&wn=Mittelman&w=SQJ964HDQT98CJT85&nn=Dummy&n=S852HA96DKJ4CAQ96&en=Kokish&e=SA73HT8743DA652C4&d=n&v=o&b=1" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />Bernard Marcouxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01266926093375033789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110196181036152836.post-37249327263573607132014-01-20T00:28:00.000-08:002014-01-20T00:28:00.871-08:00The Hollow NeedleWhen I was 12 I discovered books
and... <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ars%C3%A8ne_Lupin"
target="_blank">Arsène Lupin</a>, the brilliant,
congenial and
uncatchable thief created by French writer Maurice Leblanc. <br>
<br>
Devouring thousands and thousands of pages, novel after novel, I was
traveling
everywhere in France, especially in Normandy, in this region called
Caux, a triangle between Rouen, Le Havre and Dieppe, with all those
poetic names, but one in particular, <a
href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89tretat" target="_blank">Étretat</a>.
How I dreamt of this name, Étretat, of that landscape, of that view. <br>
<br>
In July 1995, and then again in 1998, I finally climbed the famous
cliff that
enchanted my youth and discovered, for the first time, the Hollow
Needle.<br>
<br>
At the summit of the cliff, a hundred meters above the sea, you find
yourself at the base of a half circle of around a kilometre. To the far
left, you see a rock called Magna Porta (Big Door); to the right,
another big rock called Porte d'Aval
(Door Downstream). They are called doors because the cliff, in both
cases, throws
an arm in the sea, creating a hole though which you can pass. The
Hollow Needle, a rocky cone of around 80 meters high, is situated in
that half circle, on the right side, about 50 meters from Porte d'Aval.<br>
<br>
In this novel, "The Hollow Needle (L'Aiguille Creuse)", Arsene Lupin is
chased by a young student, Isidore Beautrelet, who uncovers all his
plans, only by thinking and logic. Young Beautrelet puzzles all veteran
policemen with his unorthodox method of
not looking for clues, but of imagining first a hypothesis and seeing
afterwards if the facts correspond to this hypothesis.<br>
<br>
"And if the facts don't comply?" asked the inspector, ironic.<br>
"Well, they will be wrong and I will look for others more docile,"
responded Beautrelet.<br>
<br>
First position, vulnerable, your LHO, a very capable player, thinks for
a while and opens
3♠. Your partner, non vul, bids 4<span style="color: red;">♥</span>.
RHO passes and you have: <br>
<br>
<iframe
src="http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=SAQ6HQ73DQT3CKT32&d=w&v=e&b=16&a=3S4HP?"
height="200" width="120"></iframe><br>
<br>
For her 4<span style="color: red;">♥</span> bid,
partner should show a good hand. You Blackwood and end up in 6NT. LHO
thinks again for some time and leads... a heart.
<br>
<br>
<iframe
src="http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?sn=You&s=SAQ6HQ73DQT3CKT32&nn=Dummy&n=S4HAKJ9854D72CA95&d=w&v=e&b=16"
height="200" width="120"></iframe><br>
<br>
Oops! A bit high, no? But you're not down yet. <br>
<br>
Let's apply the Beautrelet method, let's imagine a hypothesis, let's
place cards in
LHO's hand that will permit us to succeed. You see right away that he
needs to have
a stiff Ace or King of Diamonds.<br>
<br>
On the lead, won with the Ace in dummy, RHO plays the 10, maybe a
singleton. We need to extract the second heart from LHO's hand and then
play a diamond. If he has a singleton honor in diamond, he will be
endplayed, forced to play a
Spade or a club. At the second trick, you cash the heart King. RHO
signals violently in Diamonds.<br>
<br>
You then play a diamond, small, small, King!!! LHO thinks. Wow, your
hypothesis was perfect. The more LHO thinks, the happier you are. While
he thinks, your mind wanders on the cliff of Étretat and the
analogy strikes you: with AQ6 to the left of your hand and K10xx of
Clubs to the right, like two open doors, will LHO play
into the Magna Porta AQ6, or through the Door Downstream K10xx, the
Hollow Needle being obviously
Diamonds?<br>
<br>
After a lot of thinking, he plays back... the club Queen, right into
the Door Downstream. That play leaves you speechless. <br>
<br>
Does he really have QJx in Clubs? <i style="font-style: italic;">
Too easy!</i>, would say
my friend Arturo. Arturo came to this conclusion while we were looking
for a parking place in Florence and came upon a
big empty place. <i style="font-style: italic;">Let's go
further.</i> Would LHO play the Queen without QJx? It is a fact
that we play the Queen only when we have QJx.<br>
<br>
"The facts are the facts," the inspector said to Beautrelet.<br>
"With ordinary adversaries, yes," responded the young man. But, if the
enemy has some ruse,
the facts are the ones he has chosen. All those famous clues upon which
you base your investigation (like opponents' signals in defence), it is
easy for him to give you phony informations (falsecards). And when the
opponent is Lupin (or a good bridge player), you can see to what total
ineptitude he can lead us."<br>
<br>
You look and look at the club Queen, trying to calm your heart.
Arturo's words spring again in your mind: <i
style="font-style: italic;"> Too easy!</i><br>
<br>
"Really, you say to yourself, I only have to win with my King and play
to the 9 in dummy and
I will cash 12 tricks in this impossible contract?"<br>
<br>
You give a look to your LHO. He kindly smiles back. Suddenly, you
recognize him: behind this benevolent expression, it's him, Arsene
Lupin, and his words come back to you:<br>
<br>
"When you will think you're about to grasp victory, it will escape you.
There will be something...
a detail... the sand pebble I will have placed somewhere that you will
have missed."<br>
<br>
You call upon all your will in order to think and count.<br>
<br>
IN BRIDGE, COUNTING IS THE ONLY ANTIDOTE TO STRESS AND ANGUISH.<br>
<br>
Lupin knew you could cash 7 heart tricks, 1 Spade and 2 Clubs, for 10
tricks. Why would he play
the Queen of Clubs, giving you 4 tricks if he has QJx? Why would he
play like that? Does he know something you don't know? You can't help
hearing his voice, full of mockery:<br>
<br>
"Who knows if the trap where you will fall inevitably is not already
open?"<br>
<br>
The club Queen is still on the table, shining brightly, so attractive.
Almost ready to succumb,
you succeed in breaking the fascination that paralyzes you and you
decide to count RHO's hand: he has 1 heart, 7 diamonds. If he has 2
Spades, he has 3 little Clubs, which is logical with the bidding and
LHO's club Queen. <i style="font-style: italic;"> Too easy</i>,
says your instinct, <i style="font-style: italic;"> too
easy.</i> There is something else, you're missing something. Go
back to the bidding.<br>
<br>
Suddenly, you have a shock, the light is so bright you have to close
your eyes: LHO hesitated before opening 3♠. Did he open 3♠ with 8 cards
because he was vulnerable? He would
then have 8 Spades, 2 Hearts, 1 diamond and 2 Clubs. And RHO would have
1 spade, 1 heart, 7 diamonds and 4 clubs. If LHO had played back a
spade, he would have submitted himself and his partner to a deadly
squeeze and nobody would have been able to guard the Clubs. The only
option left was to create an illusion, to try and make you believe he
had QJx in Clubs.<br>
<br>
This last hypothesis (distribution 1174 in RHO) being the one (<i
style="font-style: italic;">if
the facts don't comply, I will look for other ones, more docile,</i>
said Beautrelet) that will
permit you to succeed, you then have to base your plan on that
hypothesis and reject all other clues (attitude signals, count signals,
preference signals, switch that seems to give you the
contract, etc.) that opponents offer you. They are all false leads.<br>
<br>
You win the club Queen in dummy with the Ace. You win the club Queen in
dummy with the Ace. The situation should be
this one:<br>
<br>
<iframe
src="http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?wn=Lupin&sn=You&s=SAQ6H3DQTCKT3&nn=Dummy&n=S4HJ9854D7C95&en=RHO&e=SXHDAJXXXCJ87&d=w&v=e&b=16"
height="300" width="400"></iframe><br>
<br>
You play first the ace of spades. Then you cash the 5 heart tricks in
dummy, watching RHO's discards. He discards all his Diamonds, except
the Ace. At trick 10, on the last heart, if he discards a spade, it
will mean Lupin's got you. It is the moment of truth: you play the last
heart and East pitches a... club. You discard the now useless Queen of
diamond. The situation is now:<br>
<br>
<iframe
src="http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?wn=Lupin&sn=You&s=SHDCKT3&nn=Dummy&n=SHD7C95&en=RHO&e=SHDACJX&d=w&v=e&b=16"
height="300" width="400"></iframe><br>
<br>
You play a club from dummy, small, 10 from your hand, winning. You cash
the last 2 Clubs for +990.<br>
<br>
Lupin gives you a look of admiration and murmurs:<br>
<br>
"Well played, young man."<br>
<br>
The four hands:<br>
<br>
<iframe
src="http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?sn=You&s=SAQ6HQ73DQT3CKT32&wn=Lupin&w=SKJTXXXXXHXXDKCQX&nn=Dummy&n=S4HAKJ9854D72CA95&en=RHO&e=SXHTDAJ98XXXCJ87X&d=w&v=e&b=16"
height="300" width="400"></iframe><br>
<br>Bernard Marcouxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01266926093375033789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110196181036152836.post-28894239206226342972014-01-13T13:25:00.001-08:002014-01-13T13:25:15.466-08:00TransubstantiationDo you know what is transubstantiation? Am I taking you too far back?
It is the story they told us, when we were young, that, bread and wine
became the flesh and the blood of Christ.<br>
<br>
Is there transubstantiation at bridge? Look at this hand. I hope I am
not offending anyone.<br>
<br>
<iframe
src="http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?sn=You&s=SAXH5D8XXCAKXXXXX&d=n&v=o&b=1"
height="100" width="120"></iframe><br>
<br>
Only 11 points, but you open 1♣ obviously. Your partner bids 1♠. Your
spade Ace is a nice card, but you still have only 11 points. You rebid
2♣ and LHO comes to life with 2<span style="color: red;">♥</span>.
Your partner competes with 3♣. Do you still have only 11 points? <br>
<br>
If you believe so, you don't know transubstantiation. More matter of
fact, if you still think you have only 11 points, you simply don't know
how to add.<br>
<br>
Watch carefully: your 11 points are now transformed into... 8 tricks!
That is really transubstantiation, and at bridge, you make contracts
with tricks, not with points.<br>
<br>
So wake up!!! How do you continue?<br>
<br>
<iframe
src="http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?a=1CP1SP2C2H3CP?"
height="100" width="120"></iframe><br>
<br>
Here, a cue-bid would be of <span style="font-style: italic;">good
taste</span>. What would be 3<span style="color: red;">♥</span>?
<span style="font-style: italic;">Forcing.</span> As
long as you don't bid a pathetic and unimaginative 4♣.
<br>
<br>
<iframe
src="http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?a=1CP1SP2C2H3CP3HP3SP4CP4DP4HP4NTP5CP6CPPP"
height="100" width="120"></iframe><br>
<br>
Over 3<span style="color: red;">♥</span>, your
partner bids 3♠, no heart stopper,
but something good in spades. Otherwise, he would bid 4♣. <br>
<br>
So partner has the spade king. With 3NT out of the picture, you retreat
to 4♣, waiting for partner's next move. <br>
<br>
He bids 4<span style="color: red;">♦</span>, cue.
Quite happy with that, you cue-bid 4<span style="color: red;">♥</span>.
Partner then invokes RKCB. Your bid shows 0-3. Partner concludes with
6♣ and you await dummy with heart pounding, as always when you reach
slam. <br>
<br>
The lead is Ace of hearts. <br>
<br>
<iframe
src="http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?sn=You&s=SAXH5D8XXCAKXXXXX&nn=Dummy&n=SKJ9XXHQXDAXCJ10X&d=n&v=o&b=1"
height="200" width="120"></iframe><br>
<br>
Lead <span style="color: red;">♥</span>A, you ruff
the second heart and play 2 trumps. Then spade Ace, spade to the King.
The Queen falls graciously and you claim. 12 tricks with 20 points
(heart Queen doesn't count). <br>
<br>
So you see: all those stories that you heard when you were young are
true. Transposed in the world of bridge: with a fit, points become
tricks. <br>
<br>
<b>It is called transubstantiation. </b>
<br>Bernard Marcouxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01266926093375033789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110196181036152836.post-77427488980110532402014-01-02T12:53:00.001-08:002014-01-02T12:53:54.851-08:00The Completeness of the Cross-Country SkierTraveling in Europe for 5 weeks, I discover one day that I miss bridge.
It is the first time I feel that way. Analyzing what I feel (I am not a
bridge player for nothing), I identify that I do not miss the game
itself, but the way I feel when I play bridge. I then experience a
well-known phenomenon among long distance runners or cross-country
skiers (skating technique): after the first 2 or 3 kilometers, the
skier access a rhythm, a level (also known as second wind) where he
doesn't feel the effort anymore,
where he could ski forever without ever feeling fatigue. <br><br>
<div class="caption" style="padding: 0.5em; float: left;">
<img src="http://doc.bridgebase.com/lobbynews/fluff/ski1"
alt="Skiing">
</div>
The skis skating in tempo, arms pushing with the poles in perfect
synchronism,
you attain this eurhythmy that you don't want to leave: left, right,
left, right, on a flat surface, you pace yourself to avoid becoming
winded and you access eventually nirvana, you just float. <br>
<br>
If you have never experience this sensation, you have no idea of
paradise, you have never tasted eternity. We now know this sensation
comes from a drug called endorphin, secreted by the hypothalamus, which
has analgesic properties,
suppressing the pain. At bridge also, this sensation exists. After the
first efforts, your mind sometimes access this state of keen awareness
and you become extra lucid.<br>
<br>
Before the match, you feel this nervousness caused by the anticipation
of pleasure, and also by a slight fear of mistakes which lies deep
under this confidence you have acquired in all those years. You are
capable, you know you are capable, but stage fright is always present,
like before 20 kilometers at ski: you feel this little
weakness in your knees, you apprehend the start, you wonder if your
body will react properly, if the wax is the right one and if your
triceps will respond with energy.<br>
<br>
At bridge, after the first 2 or 3 boards, you sometimes access this
second wind and the most obvious sign is a lucidity, a clearness of
your thoughts which gives you, even right after the lead, the complete
count of the hand.<br>
<br>
Sometimes, you need to climb a hill and you have to be careful not to
push: keep
the rhythm, that is the most important thing. If not, you will be out
of energy at
the top. When you arrive at the top of the hill and start the descent,
you have to refrain yourself also. Conserve energy till the last 2
kilometers, then you can
go all out, pushing to the maximum in order to glide the fastest you
can and intoxicate yourself with these few instants robbed to you own
mortality.<br>
<br>
At bridge, often, the ascent is tough because, at the beginning of the
hand, you have only a few clues. You need then to take more time,
think, pace yourself
in order to count, imagine, visualize. After 4 or 5 cards, you access
this plateau
where you know all the elements, the count is clear and you just have
to glide. But you cannot go all out, a mistake is always possible if
you play too fast. When there are only 2 or 3 cards left, then you can
press, you know if you will
succeed or fail.<br>
<br>
In 4th seat, you have: ♠J962 <span style="color: red;">♥</span>xx
<span style="color: red;">♦</span>AKx ♣AK9x. LHO
passes, partner passes, RHO opens 1<span style="color: red;">♦</span>.
You overcall 1NT. Partner, after transferring to hearts, bids 3NT. LHO
leads the 4 of spades.<br>
<br>
<iframe
src="http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?sn=You&s=SJ962HXXDAKXCAK9X&nn=Dummy&n=SK7HQJXXXDQXXCQXX&d=n&v=o&b=1"
height="200" width="120"></iframe><br>
<br>
First, count your tricks: 3 clubs, 3 diamonds, that's all. Well, the
snow is good, and your wax is perfect, so don't rush, pace yourself, it
is an uphill climb and don't exhaust yourself right away. First some
warm-up exercises (to avoid tendinitis of the brain),
analyze the lead: if it is 4th best, the rule of 11 tells you there are
7 cards above that 4 of spades. RHO then has 2 cards higher than the 4.
Does he have AQ stiff? Possible. Or he has Ax or Qx. Anyway, you don't
have to play the king from dummy. You call a small spade from dummy,
RHO plays the Queen and plays back a spade. You play small, LHO plays
the 3, confirming 5 cards. The King wins and... catch your breath.<br>
<br>
Analyze now RHO's opening bid. What does he have? He has the spade
Queen, the Jack of diamonds and the Jack of clubs. That's only 4
points; he needs to have then AK of hearts. He has opened in 3rd seat
to make some noise, but you can analyze that noise and use it to your
advantage. You need 9 tricks. You already have 1 spade trick, plus 3 in
diamonds, that's 4 tricks, plus 3 in clubs: 7 tricks. You are missing 2
tricks and the position of
AK of hearts tells you you won't make a trick in that suit.<br>
<br>
Is the hill too steep today? Have you spent all your energy already?
But, the weather is
ideal, the wax is perfect, your legs are strong.<br>
<br>
Analyze again. Do you see where to start? Pace your breathing, slow
down in order to keep control.<br>
<br>
Count again. You need 9 tricks: you have 1 spade, 3 diamonds and 3
clubs, 7 tricks. You absolutely need 4 club tricks to attain 8
tricks... Suddenly, you feel you have regain control, your breathing is
normal again, all those hours of practice were fruitful. If you make 4
club tricks, it means clubs are 3-3. So RHO has 3 clubs, and you know
he has 2 spades. Your mind sees now clearly: RHO has opened 1<span
style="color: red;">♦</span>, he has to have at least
one more diamond than clubs. How many diamonds does he have? Control
your breathing, don't rush. RHO has most probably 4 Hearts and 4
Diamonds.<br>
<br>
The 4 hands are then:
<br>
<br>
<iframe
src="http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?sn=You&s=SJ962HXXDAKXCAK9X&wn=LHO&w=SATXXXHXXDXXXCXXX&nn=Dummy&n=SK7HQJXXXDQXXCQXX&en=RHO&e=SQXHAKXXDJXXXCJXX&d=n&v=o&b=1"
height="300" width="400"></iframe><br>
<br>
or <br>
<iframe
src="http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?sn=You&s=SJ962HXXDAKXCAK9X&wn=LHO&w=SATXXXHXXDXXXCXXX&nn=Dummy&n=SK7HQJXXXDQXXCQXX&en=RHO&e=SQXHAKXDJXXXXCJXX&d=n&v=o&b=1"
height="300" width="400"></iframe><br>
<br>
Analyze one more time: you need 9 tricks. You have 1 Spade, 3 Diamonds
and 4 Clubs, 8 tricks. You need one more and the position of AK of
Hearts means you can't make a heart trick. Still, you need ABSOLUTELY
to make one trick in Hearts. Impossible, but it is the only way. The
sphinx enigma, the Gordian knot, squaring the circle, a four-leaf
clover, understanding women (and playing with your wife), all those
impossibilities are spinning in your head. But, at the same time, you
feel you are in control, you are calm. This feeling indicates you sense
there is a solution. <br>
<br>
As you cannot play hearts, cash your 4 club tricks. On the 4th club,
LHO discards a diamond, you discard a heart in dummy, RHO hesitates,
thinks, and finally throws the 9 of Hearts. THINK, breathe and
visualize! If RHO has the 2nd hand: <br>
<br>
<iframe
src="http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s&en=RHO&e=S--HAKXDJXXXXC--&d=n&v=o&b=1"
height="100" width="120"></iframe><br>
<br>
All you have to do is play a heart and duck in dummy. East's Ace or the
King will catch
air, he will have to play back a diamond, you will win in hand and duck
a 2nd heart, establishing 2 heart tricks in dummy for +430.<br>
<br>
The 35 km sign appears in the distance, you breathe a bit more heavily,
you are going to fast, control yourself. You know the 35 km sign is
deceitful: at the top of a ascent, it seems to signify the end of the
uphill, but it is an illusion. When you will attain kilometer 35, you
will still have another kilometer of climbing before reaching Kilometer
34,
the start of the real downhill. Don't rush, think again: is East really
down to only AK of hearts? He would then give you the contract? No. So
his hand has to be: <br>
<br>
<iframe
src="http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s&en=RHO&e=SQxHAKXXDJXXXCJXX&d=n&v=o&b=1"
height="100" width="120"></iframe><br>
<br>
This heart discard from East shows he has 4 hearts, thus 4 diamonds. So
all you have to do
is cash AKQ of diamonds, then play a heart to the Queen: East will cash
AK of hearts, then
one diamond, but he will have to play a heart to the Jack in dummy for
your 9th trick. A magical +400. <br><br>
<div class="caption" style="padding: 0.5em; float: left;">
<img src="http://doc.bridgebase.com/lobbynews/fluff/ski2"
alt="Skiing">
</div>
This stepping-stone play gives you a shot of adrenaline (enemy number
One of the bridge player, but at this moment, you can afford it), and
you push even harder on your skis and poles. What a rush!!!
<br><br>
Kilometer 34 sign appears and the descent starts till km 32. You have
saved some energy for those last minutes of pure joy. At the moment you
feel you are starting to go downhill, when your legs tell you that you
are not going uphill any longer, when you don't fell anymore
this burning in your thighs, you know you have succeeded, you know you
will literally access
heaven, you will get drunk with speed (skating technique allows speeds
reaching 40/50 km/h).<br>
<br>
The skiers in classical technique that you see going uphill are like
phantoms passing by on
your right and your left (skaters occupy the center of the trail), you
are literally flying,
on cloud nine. <br>
<br>
You have conquered gravity, you have defeated your own weakness, your
penchant to give up because it is too tough, you have vanquished your
own imperfection, you live the completeness of the cross-country skier <br>
<br>
The hand:
<br>
<br>
<iframe
src="http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?sn=You&s=SJ9XXHXXDAKXCAK9X&wn=LHO&w=SATXXXHXXDXXXCXXX&nn=Dummy&n=SK7HQJXXXDQXXCQXX&en=RHO&e=SQXHAK109DJXXXCJXX&d=n&v=o&b=1"
height="300" width="400"></iframe><br>
<br>
Bernard Marcouxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01266926093375033789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110196181036152836.post-81262110499808410372013-12-22T09:09:00.001-08:002013-12-22T09:09:48.123-08:00Card Sense (or how to finish a marathon)How many mistakes are made in a bridge session at your favourite club? <br />
<br />
Let's do the maths:<br />
<ul>
<li>Let's say one mistake for each player on each board (in the
bidding, defence or declarer play, mistake meaning any inferior choice
or a real blunder), which makes 4 errors par board. </li>
<li>We multiply by 15 boards (for 15 tables) and we arrive at
60 mistakes per board, then you must multiply that figure by 2 (2
boards per round) and you obtain 120 mistakes per round.</li>
<li> You then multiply that number by 13 (13 rounds) and you
arrive at... 1,560 mistakes per session. </li>
</ul>
You think I am exaggerating? I don't think so. <br />
<br />
The number of mistakes is probably even higher, closer to 2 errors for
each player on each board, which makes (brace yourself) 3,120 mistakes
per session at your local bridge club, roughly 1,000 mistakes per hour
!!!<br />
<br />
We are closer to the truth. Why all those mistakes ? <br />
<br />
The main reason, I think, is that the immense majority of players are
sleeping at the table. They hold their cards, they hear the bidding,
they see dummy, but they don't listen, they don't look, they don't
think. <br />
<br />
Why is that ? I don't know. Probably they don't believe they can
control what is happening at the table. I would say at least 8 or 9
players out of 10 think that way.<br />
<br />
Basically, those 9 players out of 10 believe bridge is pure luck and
that they can't do anything about it.<br />
<br />
They don't believe they can count the hands. They don't believe they
can know, for sure, the exact distribution of declarer or a defender. <br />
<br />
And you see that in the way they play: they hesitate, choose a card,
put it back, pick another one, go back to the first one, then throw it
on the table, quickly, curious to see what is going to happen, like
they have absolutely no idea of what can possibly happen. <br />
<br />
The cards falling on the table are for them a constant surprise. For
them, bridge happens all the time in the dark and the players who enjoy
repeated successes are magicians who access a superior world they will
never see. <br />
<br />
Those 9 players out of 10 will tell you that the successful player has
a "card sense", that he was born with that sense, and that his first
words, when he was born, were probably: "I open 1NT and I will make 8
tricks on a club/heart squeeze against West". <br />
<br />
Or they will say that player is lucky, which means they are not,
obviously.<br />
<br />
Let's make an analogy: can we say a marathon runner has a "marathon
sense"? And if he finishes the race, will we say he was lucky? <br />
<br />
If we accept that a bridge player can have a "card sense", then we have
to accept also that a marathon runner who finishes the race has a
"marathon sense", or he is lucky, obviously!! That reasoning is
evidently totally absurd.<br />
<br />
How can a marathon runner run 40 km? He trains for months, if not
years. And you think you can play bridge without training? 9 players
out of 10 think they can.<br />
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?s=SKJHA8XXDAXXCA872&w=SAQTXXXHTXXDJXXC4&n=SXXHKJ9XXDXXCK963&e=SXXXHQDKQTXXCQJT5&d=w&v=o&a=2SPP%21%28%21%21%292NP3DD4H%21%28%21%29PPP" width="400"></iframe><br />
<br />
West opened 2♠, North passed and East also, 1st big mistake,
that we see everyday in every bridge clubs all over the world.<br />
<br />
All those players pass, even if they have every reason to bid: they
have a fit, only 1 heart (opponents have at least an 8-card heart fit
and probably a game; so they have to try and make life difficult for
them) and only 7 losers. <br />
<br />
After passing, if opponents reopen the bidding, they will now, of
course, raise their partner, but it is too late. You have told them
time after time to raise immediately, to rob opponents of space, they
will never do it.<br />
<br />
In 4th seat, you reopen with 2nt, instead of doubling, to protect KJ of
spades. Your partner transfers with 3<span style="color: red;">♦</span>,
doubled. You decide to jump to 4 <span style="color: red;">♥</span>
(you also can make mistakes :) ) and everybody passes. <br />
<br />
If you look at the hand, 4 <span style="color: red;">♥</span>has
no chance... but...<br />
<br />
West leads the J of diamonds, his 1st mistake. This lead shows
generally
shortness, but these players play that a small card promises an honour.
For them, the J is obviously not an honour.<br />
<br />
You play small in dummy, East ducks (his 2nd big mistake), and you duck
also, to cut communications. <br />
<br />
East, if he listened, knows his partner has opened 2♠, he <span style="font-style: italic;">knows</span> his
partner has 6 spades, he <span style="font-style: italic;">knows</span>
declarer has 2 spades. He <span style="font-style: italic;">knows</span>
he has
to try to win the diamond in order to play back a spade, but he ducks.
WHY ? Mystery.<br />
<br />
I can't explain and, if you ask East why, he won't be able to explain
either.
And if you take the time to explain all that to him, he won't put
into practice what you told him. WHY ? Mystery again.<br />
<br />
West continues diamonds (2nd mistake by West), instead of switching to
a club maybe.<br />
<br />
You win and play a heart to the King, picking up East's Queen. <br />
<br />
So West has 6 spades, 3 hearts and 2 or 3 diamonds. East <span style="font-style: italic;">has to know</span>
you have 2 spades, 4 hearts, and that his partner has
6 spades and 3 hearts. <br />
<br />
How did declarer discover all those informations? With his "card
sense"? And if East has not discovered the same things, is it because
he doesn't have a "card sense"?<br />
<br />
You pull all the trumps and play a diamond, ruffing in dummy. <br />
<br />
West follows! Thus he had 6 spades, 3 hearts, 3 diamonds and only 1
club. <br />
<br />
East also is <span style="font-style: italic;">supposed
to know</span> the same things you know: your hand is
2434 and West is 6331.<br />
<br />
You know you are going down. You can't avoid losing 1 or 2 spades, 1 or
2 clubs, added to the diamond already conceded. You can maybe
save a trick by endplaying West with his singleton club. In hand,
he will concede a spade or give you ruff and sluff.<br />
<br />
So you play a club from dummy, East plays the 5. 3rd BIG mistake :
he <span style="font-style: italic;">knows</span>,
if he is not sleeping, that you have 4 clubs; he has only
to play the 10. You play the 7, which wins!<br />
<br />
The rest is easy : club to the king, small spade towards your Jack.
West wins, cashes the Ace and play back a spade, giving you ruff and
sluff : +620.<br />
<br />
Let's add : West has made 2 mistakes and East, 3 big errors. So 5
mistakes between them on one board: let's multiply by 26 boards
and we arrive at 130 mistakes for this pair on one session. <br />
<br />
Let's multiply then by 30 pairs, 15 tables, and we arrive at almost
4,000 mistakes in one bridge session. <br />
<br />
Astounding, no?<br />
<br />
And you thought I was exaggerating at the beginning of this article.<br />
<br />
What is even more astounding is that those players play 2, 3, 5, 6, 7
times a week and they never ask themselves why they generally play 45%,
and why, one day, they score 60% and, the day after, they go back to
35%.<br />
<br />
Why don't they ask themselves those questions: that is the real
question, it seems to me.Bernard Marcouxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01266926093375033789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110196181036152836.post-64232002434445037582013-12-02T22:53:00.000-08:002013-12-02T22:53:00.091-08:00The trouble with beginners<br>
<iframe
src="http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?en=You&e=S7HKQ10xxDAJCAQ10xx&d=s&a=1SP2S?"
height="200" width="120"></iframe><br>
<br>
I think you can double. Opener passes, partner bids 3<span
style="color: red;">♦</span>, you rebid 3<span
style="color: red;">♥</span>, opener passes, partner
passes and responder continues with 3♠. All pass. <br>
<br>
Partner leads club 8. As you have bid hearts and she leads a club, this
looks like a singleton. As they say: if it looks like a singleton, if
it smells like a singleton, if it behaves like a singleton, IT IS a
singleton.<br>
<br>
<iframe
src="http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?en=You&e=S7HKQ10xxDAJCAQ10xx&nn=Dummy&n=S98xxHJxxDKQxC9xx"
height="300" width="400"></iframe><br>
<br>
Not a very good 3♠, you mumble to yourself: 4333, 10 losers. If opener
has AKQxx in spades, you can maybe beat the hand by one trick: 1 club,
1 diamond, 1 heart and 2 ruffs. <br>
<br>
So you win with the Ace and play back your smallest club, the 2, suit
preference for diamonds. Partner duly ruffs and plays back... a heart.
Didn't you tell her over and over that when she ruffs, the card played
by her partner tells her which suit to come back? Why does she do that
to me, you say? Opener looks at you with a little grin (not really,
you're on BBO :)
) and calls for a small heart. <br>
<br>
Which card do you play? You are the expert, you have to keep your cool.
With the lead and your suit preference, you could have beaten the hand
if partner had played back a diamond. Now that defense is dead. You
will make only 4 tricks unless... partner can come in again. Can
partner really come in hand again? In order to beat that hand, you have
to ASSUME that she will get in hand one more time. If not, you will not
beat the hand. And the only card she can have to win a trick is the Ace
of spades. That means you can beat the hand by 2 tricks:
1 club, 1 heart, 1 diamond, 2 ruffs and the Ace of spades! Wow. <br>
<br>
So which heart do you play? All experts know that in 3rd seat, you
force with the lowest of touching cards. With KQ, you have to play the
Queen; partner can then think you maybe have the King (declarer can
false card). But if you play the King, you absolutely deny the Queen.
So in your expert head, you say to yourself: I will play the King,
denying the Queen. If partner comes in with the Ace of spades, she will
not play back a heart. I explained to her
soooooo many times that lowest thing of touching cards in 3rd seat.
Having seen the King, she will be sure I don't have the Queen, she will
be forced to lead a diamond.<br>
<br>
Opener wins with the Ace of hearts and plays King of spades. Partner
wins the Ace. Wow, everything is working like you imagined. <br>
<br>
Partner thinks and you tremble. She has to, she absolutely <span
style="font-style: italic;">has to</span> lead now a
diamond. She KNOWS you don't have the heart Queen. <br>
<br>
After some 20 seconds, she puts the 8 of hearts on the table. <br>
<br>
You almost throw your cards up in the air (you can't, you're on BBO :)
). Please expert, keep your cool. What was the first heart she played?
Now it's your turn to think and count and try to remember. Was the
first heart she played a small one or a bigger one than the 8? You
don't remember??? Expert, expert, you let your emotions get in the way.
Pitiful. You're supposed to look at the cards and remember everything.
And you didn't.<br>
<br>
You play the heart 10 halfheartedly, hoping declarer doesn't ruff. He
follows! So don't take any chances now. Ace of diamonds, then club for
the 2nd undertrick. <br>
<br>
The trouble with beginners is that they don't look. They think they
look, but they don't. They have too many things on their mind: the
bidding, what you told them about leads, play in first seat,
play in second seat, play in third seat, everything. So looking at the
cards of other players is too much for them for now. <br>
<br>
The trouble with experts is that they sometimes get emotional and
forget to look also! :)
<br>
Bernard Marcouxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01266926093375033789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110196181036152836.post-73123529901582389642013-11-26T04:07:00.001-08:002013-11-26T04:07:33.502-08:00Do you count points, or losers?<br />
1st seat, vulnerable, in a team game, you have:
<br />
<br />
<iframe height="100" src="http://www.bridgebase.com/tools/handviewer.html?sn=You&s=SQ9XXXH2DQTXXXXC3&d=n&v=o&b=1" width="120"></iframe><br />
<br />
This is the final of the annual Montreal-Toronto friendly match which
dates back to 1967.
Montreal leads 23-22! The match plays at Irving Litvack's Regal
St-Clair in Toronto. Irving has been a warm and perfect host for the
Montrealers since Friday night. This is the Sunday morning session.<br />
<br />
You play against Canadian champions. This is the 3rd of 4 quarters (24
brds per segment). You are behind by some 40 imps, which is not too big
a deficit. If you can win this 3rd segment, you will be within striking
distance in the 4th segment.<br />
<br />
Board 21<br />
<br />
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</iframe><br />
<br />
1♠ with only 4 points, some would say? Yes, bridge is a bidder's game
and you are behind. So bid first, think later. What do you do over 2♠?<br />
<br />
If you were already shaking from fear when you bid 1♠, you will pass in
a flash. But then you are not playing bridge and you lack some
knowledge about re-evaluation. Maybe you don't read bridge books and
magazines. If you did, you would have read Bergen's "Points Schmoints"
and also a book called "The losing trick count". I won't enter into
details but, when you partner raised you to 2♠, your hand, losing trick
count-wise, is worth an opening hand. So what do you do?<br />
<br />
First, how many points partner has? Can he have only 12 points? <br />
<br />
No. Knowing you have already passed, there is no point in bidding 2♠,
even
with a fit, if there is no hope for game. So partner must have a good
hand, like 14 points, to raise you to 2♠. You might have passed in
first seat with 10-11 points. 11 + 14 is 25. But if opener in 3rd seat
has only 12 points, 12 + 11 is 23, he would pass 1♠ and raise later if
opponents compete.<br />
<br />
So you are sure partner has a good hand. Do you still pass 2♠?<br />
<br />
If you know the losing trick count and listen to Bergen's preach, you
have to bid 4♠! With only 4 points, you still ask? Yes.<br />
<br />
The lead is 8 of <span style="color: red;">♦</span>.<br />
<br />
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</iframe><br />
<br />
Told you partner had 14 points. You go up Ace, play the <span style="color: red;">♥</span> Ace, ruff a <span style="color: red;">♥</span>, play small spade: King
pops up. You make 5, losing one
diamond and one club.<br />
<br />
You feel good? I hope so. You think this might even be a swing board?
Get real. You are not playing against Mom and Pop. No offense intended.<br />
<br />
When you compare, you find out you LOSE 8 imps. Your partners doubled
them in 4♠! Opponents were also in 4♠. They are champions, I told you.
First they bid game and then they try to make the hand. In the long
run, bidding game first and then look if the contract is makeable is
the winning strategy at imps.<br />
<br />
If you had not bid 4♠, you would have lost 13 imps. Will you pass the
next time you have 4 points?<br />
<br />
By the way, you win the 3rd segment by 11. So you manage to stay in
striking
distance for the 4th segment.<br />
<br />
(WE lost in the end :( ).Bernard Marcouxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01266926093375033789noreply@blogger.com0