Yes, I am taking a break from the blog.
This semester I am teaching two new writing classes, so I am spending a lot of time doing other kinds of writing (models for my students) and a LOT of reading (student papers). I am also thinking of going in another direction with writing about bridge; more about that when things start to take shape.
I will still post sometimes, especially when Julie and I travel for tournaments. I anticipate having a lot to say about Philadelphia!
Thanks for reading about my bridge adventures.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Drury
"We need to learn Drury," Julie said.
"I thought we decided to focus on play of the hand and defense, and to try to just remember the conventions we are already using," I replied.
"I know we said that, " Julie continued, "but people are saying we need to learn Drury. So I've asked a few of the A players, and they said we definitely should."
"Okay," I agreed. "Let's both read about it this afternoon, then talk about it before we play this evening."
Later that day I went online and read an article by one of the inventors of Drury while Julie read a different article. We then read each other's article as well and talked on the phone. We agreed that the basic premise seemed simple enough, and decided to play it that evening in its most simple form. The only question was which version of Drury to play; Julie volunteered to go early to the club and ask John.
That Friday evening Julie was already at the club when I arrived. We discussed what John had told Julie about Drury, and then I went to him with some follow-up questions. By the time play began we were ready.
At the first table I was alert for opportunities to bid Drury; none appeared. The same was true for the next few tables. We were following John and his partner around the room, and when we reached table 6 we saw that table 7 was a sit-out. John used this break to pull up a chair behind Julie and kibbitz. The first board was uneventful, but on the second board Julie opened 1 spade. I had 10 points and 2 little spades: "If I bid 1NT," I told myself, "Julie won't know I have 10 points. Maybe I better bid my nice 5 card club suit." I pulled out the 2 club card from the bidding box.
My LHO passed and Julie pondered her next bid. I looked at the table and suddenly realized that Julie had opened in 3rd seat. Oh no! I had missed the chance to bid Drury! I was crestfallen, but only for a moment because I suddenly realized that I had bid Drury. "Whew," I thought, relieved that I had accidently bid correctly. I decided that when it was all over I would pretend that I had known what I was doing. Unfortunately my relief did not last long, because as Julie continued to think I had another realization. I had indeed bid Drury, but I had bid it incorrectly. I only had 2 card support.
Julie bid 2 spades.
At this point I had no idea what to do. Julie had not alerted my bid, but had she just forgotten to alert or had she forgotten about Drury? Either was possible. And was I obligated to respond as if we were playing Drury, even though my bid -- at the time that I made it -- was natural? And what did her 2 spade bid mean, anyway?? I bid 3 spades and the result was disasterous.
When the hand was over, John spoke up. "I thought you were playing Drury," he said.
"We are." Julie looked at him, baffled. Now I knew; she had read my bid as natural.
"Well . . . "
We talked about what had happened and John gave me some good advice about bidding Drury with only 2 card support: "When your hand comes down, just say you thought you had three of them."
Apparently Drury is easier to read about than to implement.
"I thought we decided to focus on play of the hand and defense, and to try to just remember the conventions we are already using," I replied.
"I know we said that, " Julie continued, "but people are saying we need to learn Drury. So I've asked a few of the A players, and they said we definitely should."
"Okay," I agreed. "Let's both read about it this afternoon, then talk about it before we play this evening."
Later that day I went online and read an article by one of the inventors of Drury while Julie read a different article. We then read each other's article as well and talked on the phone. We agreed that the basic premise seemed simple enough, and decided to play it that evening in its most simple form. The only question was which version of Drury to play; Julie volunteered to go early to the club and ask John.
That Friday evening Julie was already at the club when I arrived. We discussed what John had told Julie about Drury, and then I went to him with some follow-up questions. By the time play began we were ready.
At the first table I was alert for opportunities to bid Drury; none appeared. The same was true for the next few tables. We were following John and his partner around the room, and when we reached table 6 we saw that table 7 was a sit-out. John used this break to pull up a chair behind Julie and kibbitz. The first board was uneventful, but on the second board Julie opened 1 spade. I had 10 points and 2 little spades: "If I bid 1NT," I told myself, "Julie won't know I have 10 points. Maybe I better bid my nice 5 card club suit." I pulled out the 2 club card from the bidding box.
My LHO passed and Julie pondered her next bid. I looked at the table and suddenly realized that Julie had opened in 3rd seat. Oh no! I had missed the chance to bid Drury! I was crestfallen, but only for a moment because I suddenly realized that I had bid Drury. "Whew," I thought, relieved that I had accidently bid correctly. I decided that when it was all over I would pretend that I had known what I was doing. Unfortunately my relief did not last long, because as Julie continued to think I had another realization. I had indeed bid Drury, but I had bid it incorrectly. I only had 2 card support.
Julie bid 2 spades.
At this point I had no idea what to do. Julie had not alerted my bid, but had she just forgotten to alert or had she forgotten about Drury? Either was possible. And was I obligated to respond as if we were playing Drury, even though my bid -- at the time that I made it -- was natural? And what did her 2 spade bid mean, anyway?? I bid 3 spades and the result was disasterous.
When the hand was over, John spoke up. "I thought you were playing Drury," he said.
"We are." Julie looked at him, baffled. Now I knew; she had read my bid as natural.
"Well . . . "
We talked about what had happened and John gave me some good advice about bidding Drury with only 2 card support: "When your hand comes down, just say you thought you had three of them."
Apparently Drury is easier to read about than to implement.
Friday, January 6, 2012
Learning
"Now that was a good hand," Dennis said as our opponents left the table.
I looked at him suspiciously. I had just made an egregious bidding error that had "0" written all over it. Was he being sarcastic, I wondered? No, he was smiling and actually looked kind of pleased. I must have looked puzzled, because he went on to explain.
"You learned something new, now you'll know what to do next time," he said.
Dennis had opened 2 clubs. I didn't even have a king in my hand so I bid 2 diamonds, showing a king or less. At this point Julie usually bids 2NT and we go from there; I know what to do after a rebid of 2NT. However, Dennis then bid 2 hearts. Of course I knew that meant he had at least 5 hearts, but that was my worst suit. Could I pass that bid, I pondered. (I hear all of my Flight A friends, B friends, and probably C friends shouting NO NO NO as they read this.) But my best suit was diamonds, which I would have had to bid at the 3 level, and I just wanted out of this. So I passed. Of course he made 6 hearts. I learned that when partner opens 2 clubs you have to bid within one level of game, because a two club opening is one trick short of game.
My best moment of the afternoon passed by unnoticed by anyone except me. I was the declarer and thought very carefully about my play against two top opponents. It went exactly as I had hoped, and I took it as a compliment that no one commented. I think they just expected me to play it correctly!
We ended up about average and placed; even though low on the list, it was in A.
In closing, I have to again say how much I appreciate A players taking the time to partner with me in an effort to teach me better bridge. You can all relax for awhile, though--my semester is starting up again so my bridge time will be limited. But maybe I'll ask someone again around spring break . . .
I looked at him suspiciously. I had just made an egregious bidding error that had "0" written all over it. Was he being sarcastic, I wondered? No, he was smiling and actually looked kind of pleased. I must have looked puzzled, because he went on to explain.
"You learned something new, now you'll know what to do next time," he said.
Dennis had opened 2 clubs. I didn't even have a king in my hand so I bid 2 diamonds, showing a king or less. At this point Julie usually bids 2NT and we go from there; I know what to do after a rebid of 2NT. However, Dennis then bid 2 hearts. Of course I knew that meant he had at least 5 hearts, but that was my worst suit. Could I pass that bid, I pondered. (I hear all of my Flight A friends, B friends, and probably C friends shouting NO NO NO as they read this.) But my best suit was diamonds, which I would have had to bid at the 3 level, and I just wanted out of this. So I passed. Of course he made 6 hearts. I learned that when partner opens 2 clubs you have to bid within one level of game, because a two club opening is one trick short of game.
My best moment of the afternoon passed by unnoticed by anyone except me. I was the declarer and thought very carefully about my play against two top opponents. It went exactly as I had hoped, and I took it as a compliment that no one commented. I think they just expected me to play it correctly!
We ended up about average and placed; even though low on the list, it was in A.
In closing, I have to again say how much I appreciate A players taking the time to partner with me in an effort to teach me better bridge. You can all relax for awhile, though--my semester is starting up again so my bridge time will be limited. But maybe I'll ask someone again around spring break . . .
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Top Ten List 2012
Top Ten Bridge New Year’s Resolutions
(based on an unscientific poll)
10. Learning new conventions such as two over one and 1NT
forcing
9. Start counting cards
8. Cutting back on making bidding mistakes that the bidder
knows are bad immediately after making them
7. Following the Law of Total Tricks on every raise
6. Getting back to reading
5. Making correct leads, opening and during play
4. Learning all of the daytime players’ names
3. Doing well at tournaments
2. Partnering with various players on the days they do well
1. Staying positive and having fun
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