Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Another Difference

Julie and I decided to play in the Tuesday evening game in Grand Haven, so yesterday afternoon we headed in that direction.  On the drive there we revisited Drury.  We play two-way reverse Drury, but the day before Julie had made the case for a different version.  I was resistant to learning this new bidding sequence, but as Julie pointed out, "You've never actually played Drury anyway so what difference does it make if we change?"  In the face of that logic, what could I do but agree.  However, on the drive to Grand Haven, we went over both versions and decided to go back to our original plan.

That settled, I drew Julie's attention to an article in the latest Bridge Bulletin.  We play that a double over opponent's opening 4 spade preempt is for penalty, while 4NT is for take-out.  The article suggests that the double should be for take-out and 4NT should show the minors.  We discussed the pros and cons and decided that Julie should read the article before we think about changing that bid.

This conversation carried us into Grand Haven and to an outdoor spot for dinner, after which we proceeded to the bridge club.  It was a small but friendly group with some familiar faces, and before long we were engrossed in play.  Soon, however, we had a sit-out, which gave us a chance to discuss our meal.

"That salad was not very good," Julie said.  "Your burger looked good, though."

"It was good," I agreed.  "Your salad was overpriced."

"This chocolate is really hot."  Julie had bought a chocolate bar with dried cherries and chili peppers.  "I can't believe you don't think this is hot."

"Did you ever think about trying out for community theater?"  I left the topic of food to refer to the tryouts that were going on across the hall.

"No, never!"  Julie was surprisingly emphatic.

Our conversation covered several topics while the rest of the tables played three boards.  When the round was over, Mike and Bob passed by on their way to their next table.

"What did you talk about?"  Mike asked.  "The boards you just played, or are you looking ahead?"

And with that question I discovered yet another difference between A players and C players.  We do talk about bridge--we actually talk about bridge a lot--but apparently A players talk about bridge even more.



  

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Another Fine Mess . . .

I like to write about the things that go wrong at the bridge table.  First of all, that ensures that I always have something to write about.  I don't mean this in a self-critical way; most (all?) bridge players have hands they wish they had bid or played differently.  Second, thinking about what went wrong (okay, what I did wrong) helps me learn more about bidding or playing so that hopefully I don't make that particular mistake again.  That way I can move on to learn more conventions and plays and contemplate new mistakes.  And finally, perhaps most importantly, the reason I write about things that go awry is that I have the clearest memory of those hands.

Julie and I have played DONT successfully several times.  The key to our past triumphs with DONT, I learned on Wednesday, is that we had not gone beyond the 1NT overcaller's first bid.  Apparently we had that part of the convention down cold, but this time---you guessed it--we went so far beyond that we landed in Nebraska.  Here's what happened.

The dealer opened 1NT.  I had 14 HCP with 5 clubs and 4 spades, perfect for DONT.  I happily bid 2 clubs and waited to see what would happen.  Not surprisingly, my LHO passed.  Julie thought for a moment and then bid 2 diamonds.  I hesitated only briefly, confident that since this wasn't my other suit that I should bid 2 spades.  So I did, expecting my partner to pass or maybe even go back to clubs.  Instead, Julie bid 3 hearts.  The opponents, of course, had dropped out of the bidding by now.  This time I had to think harder about what to do.  Julie obviously didn't like my clubs or my spades; likewise, I did not like her diamonds or hearts.  Equally obvious, we had all of the suits stopped, so what else could I do?

I bid 3NT and my LHO doubled (nice, Darryl).

Of course I went down and got a bottom board.  This caused us to query several people and do more extensive reading about DONT.  Next time I will only bid if my lower suit has 5 cards (which I did do this time but have not always done) and if my partner bids, no matter what she bids, I will pass.





Monday, May 21, 2012

Kalamazoo Sectional 2012

Julie and I played in the Friday games and in the Swiss Team event on Sunday.  We decided to play in the open pairs on Friday, and we did very well in the afternoon (not so great in the evening).  Swiss Teams became tiring, not only because we played 7 rounds of 7 boards each, but also because it was very warm.  If the air conditioning was on, we didn't feel it; the ninety degree heat crept in and made everyone sweaty and lethargic.

Most of the boards we played are now a blur, but I do somewhat remember one hand that Julie and I played early in the day on Sunday.  Julie opened a club and I had twelve points with four little hearts.  I dutifully bid 1 heart, thinking about where we might find a game contract.  Then Julie jump-shifted into spades, telling me she had 18 or 19 points.  Maybe we have slam, I thought, but how do I find out?  And where would we play it?  My hearts were poor and my spades were even worse.  Hmm, I thought.  I'll show Julie that I have good diamonds.  I bid 3 diamonds.

Julie bid 3NT.  

Now what?  Julie is counting on my hearts for a stopper, I thought.  Plus, I want to investigate slam but don't know how.  I have to get Julie to bid again so I can get more information and so I'll have more time to figure out what to do.  If I go beyond 3NT, I think, maybe Julie will realize that I have enough points to keep going and that I don't like no trump.  I bid 4 clubs.  

Julie thought for a moment and then pulled out the 4 no trump card.  Why is she insisting on no trump, I thought.  I am running out of options!  All right, I said to myself, here goes 5 clubs.  Since I bid diamonds first and have now bid clubs twice, Julie will see that these are my two good suits.  If she would rather be in diamonds, she can still bid 5 diamonds and then maybe I will go to 6.  I was undecided, but seriously considering it.

Julie shrugged and bid 6NT.  
Our teammates' opponents were also in no trump, but only in 3.  Julie made 6 and we won that round.

                            *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *

Faulty thinking #1:  After this round, Mike asked me where all of my points were.  Diamonds and clubs, I answered.  "Then where are your partner's 18 points?" he asked.  Hmm, good question.  "Even if she has the ace, king, queen, and jack of spades," he continued, "that's only 10 points.  You have the majority of the points in the minors; she has to have something in hearts."  In fact Julie had the king and was not counting on my hearts for a stopper.  

Faulty thinking #2:  Julie had received my message about having points and was starting to investigate slam.  Her 4NT bid was not an insistence on playing in no trump, it was 1430.  She thought my response meant that I had the key cards she needed, which is why she went to slam.

If only I could remember all of the hands we played at the tournament; just think how much I could learn!



Tuesday, May 15, 2012

It Never Ends

Prologue (Fall 2009)

Julie and I were not used to playing in the Friday night game, but my teaching schedule this semester did not leave us many options.  Friday nights had a bad reputation among beginners like us; the game was populated by advanced players who would show no mercy.  On this Friday evening, I uncomfortably imagined that the other players were happy to see such easy prey enter the room.

Julie and I had studied the seemingly endless possible responses to a 1NT opening.  Pass, transfer, stayman, invite, game, suit or no trump . . .  each decision with its own set of rules that had been carefully memorized.  I was galvanized into action when finally the right hand came up and Julie opened this bid.

I mentally went through all of the options before I bid 2 hearts, a transfer to spades.  I sat back, quite proud of myself for coming up with the correct bid.  However, my complacency quickly turned to horror when Julie raised my hearts.  Oh no, I thought as I pulled out the pass card.  This is not good.

Correcting to spades did not occur to me.

Monday Night Game (May 2012)

My partner and I were sitting north-south and I could see Julie a few tables down, sitting in the same direction as me.  It will be interesting to compare notes afterwards, I thought, as I observed her chatting with her partner.  We'll be able to see if we made the same bids.

The game was going quite well when my partner opened 1NT.  I was momentarily surprised; I had 12 high card points and had been planning to open or overcall.  Responses to an opening 1NT were now automatic, and I smiled to myself remembering how I used to agonize over what to do.  As I waited my turn, my RHO bid 2 hearts.

Not a problem.  Julie and I play that systems are on through 2 spades, so I bid 3 clubs for stayman, showing a 4 card major.  (Important note:  I was not playing with Julie.)   My partner could bid 3 spades which I would then take to game, or 3 diamonds to which I would respond 3NT.  Since the opponents had bid hearts, I was not expecting a heart response.

My LHO passed, and my partner pondered what to do.  She asked about the 2 hearts overcall and thought some more.  What's the problem, I wondered.  I started sending mental messages:  bid bid bid.  She finally bid 3NT, making 4 for a very good board.

What was the problem?  Apparently the rest of the world plays that a 3 club bid over a 2 heart overcall is natural, not stayman.  As I thought about it, I realized that I had never actually understood what "systems on through 2 spades" meant.  After serious consideration, I had decided that it meant systems were on if the overcaller bid up to 2 spades; however, now I wondered if maybe it meant that systems were on as long as the responder can bid up to 2 spades.

Later that evening I heard about several ways to handle 1NT overcalls,  including systems on only over 2 clubs and doubles or systems on if you can make your usual bid; a double means stolen bid or a double is for penalty; cue bids signal stayman; other bids too confusing to pay attention to also came up (something to do with signaling stoppers).

In the midst of this discussion, Julie and I looked at each other.  (Yes, she had also made the 3 club bid signaling stayman.)  "Let's just have a 'partnership agreement' and do whatever we want," Julie quietly suggested.  Sounds good to me.



Saturday, May 12, 2012

Bids

This week I couldn't get to that sweet place where everything made sense and the right move was easy to find.  My play was okay (I think), but if I wasn't sure what to bid I most likely went in the wrong direction.  The positive side is that I learned a few things.

In one game, my RHO opened 1 heart.  I had 16 points with Kxx.  Usually I would overcall 1NT, but this time I thought harder about what to do.  I had a vague recollection that you should have a stronger hand and 2 stoppers to overcall 1NT.  Hmmm, I thought.  What other bid was there?  Well, if it wasn't a balanced hand I would double with 16 points and go from there.  So I doubled.

My LHO passed and of course my partner bid my weakest suit, clubs.  I had Ax in clubs, but I was ready.  I bid 2NT.  This way, I reasoned, my partner would know that I had a no trump opening hand.  My partner thought for a moment and then bid 3NT.

Dummy came down with 7 points.  It turns out that my bid meant that I had about 18-19 points.   Of course I did not make my contract; everyone at the table said that I should have overcalled 1NT.  That's what happens when you think too much and, sadly, I was thinking a lot this week.

I am hopeful that this bidding slump has resolved itself, since next week will be a marathon of playing.  I have partners for all of the club games (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday) and will be playing in the Kalamazoo tournament on Friday and Sunday.

Summer vacation is a wonderful thing.




Thursday, May 3, 2012

Two Lessons

At yesterday's game I opened a hand with an extremely weak 2 spades bid.  We weren't vulnerable and I had K J 10 x x x along with 2 doubletons; six points if I counted length, I reasoned.  Still, part of me was hoping that the opponents would come in at the 3 level, putting themselves at jeopardy and taking me off the hook.  Instead, imagine my surprise when my partner bid 4 spades.

Dummy came down with 18 HCP, which was great, and a singleton 6 of spades, which was not so great.  Julie thought we should be in game but didn't want to bid no trump, thinking that she would have trouble getting to dummy (not that it would have helped her much anyway).   It's all a blur now, but I do remember the adrenaline rush as I somehow made 4 spades for a top board.  

What I re-learned from this hand is to never forget what message I am sending my partner when I bid.  

In another hand, I was declarer in a 3NT contract.  (Yes, my streak of bad cards seems to have run its course and I actually got to play a few hands in Wednesday's game.)  When dummy came down I saw that I had 8 tricks off the top and just needed to get the ace of diamonds out for my 9th trick.  Not a problem, since I had the king and queen.  I finessed the king, so I didn't even need to bother with the ace.  I proceeded to take my tricks and then found that I had made a rookie mistake--I was stranded in dummy with no way to get back to my hand for the ace of hearts.

I thought about what to do.  Not long ago I would have given up--just taken my 8 tricks with a vow to think harder about transportation in a no trump contract.  Instead, I came up with a plan.  I still had the queen of diamonds in my hand and I knew where the ace was.  I led a diamond and lost a couple of tricks, but then got back in and made 4 NT.  My snafu had resulted in an extra trick.

What I learned from this hand is that it is time for me to start thinking beyond just making the contract.  I should have figured out when dummy first came down if it was possible to take more than 9 tricks, and then worked toward that.  

I have nothing to say about getting stranded in dummy.


Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Firsts

First #1:  I really enjoyed playing defense at the Monday night game.  I mean, I really enjoyed it.  Once again I had bad cards (I was declarer only once), but this time my hands were good enough to do some damage.  Usually when I play a mostly defensive game, I don't have a sense of how we're doing.  This time was different; this time I knew that setting the opponents' contracts did not mean that we had underbid and should have played something our way.  I could tell things were going well as I studied the declarers' moves and thought about how to undermine the contract.  It was exhilarating!

I no longer think that those who prefer to play defense rather than offense are weird.

First #2:  Twice yesterday my partner invited me to game and I passed.  Passing an invitation to game is not new for me, although I admit that I am sometimes overcome with "what the heck" thinking and go when I shouldn't.  What was new at yesterday's game was the way I approached the decision.  Even though I wanted to be in game, I did more than count points and think about my partner's likely cards.  This time I also thought about what the opponents were probably holding and the quality of the points in my hand.  Both times that I decided to pass we exactly made our bid.

Making a partial contract is more fun than being in game and going down.