Playing with The Director

Our club director and her husband very kindly offered to be partners with me and Julie at a Friday night game.  That happened last night; I played with The Director while Julie played with the director's husband.  

Before the game, I went to the ACBL website and reviewed the meanings of the bids on the convention card--how embarrassing would that be, to answer "I don't know" if my new partner had a question about something on my card!  I also went over my notes and played some hands on my computer software program.  My main goal was to have my head in the game and not do anything too stupid.  Did I succeed in this goal?  I think so, but I'm not totally sure.

The evening started out quite well.  At least I think it did, because my partner did not have much to say about my bidding or my play.  I listened as she occasionally commented on our opponents' play, though, which was gratifying because I knew what she was talking about.  

I was not surprised when this silence ended.  My bidding and defensive play were okay and at times even good, but my play as declarer was often flawed.  My partner pointed out the analysis I should have done as I planned the play of the hand.  I am trying to get better at this, but it is really difficult to think about all of the elements involved and put them together in a way that works.   I need to:  Think.  Think.  Think.  Practice.  Practice.  Practice. 

I thought I would be anxious playing with The Director, but I was not.  It helped that the cards were not too weird and so the bidding was relatively simple.  Also, she made some nice comments about my play and her advice was always matter-of-fact, never critical.  We ended up 2nd in A for the session, 1st in B.

A couple of people did compliment me on my calm demeanor.  Maybe someday I will be such a good player that people will want to be my partner and be nervous about it at the same time!

Lansing NLM Tournament

Julie and I drove to Lansing today with a couple of friends to play in the NLM tournament.  We had our best game yet, placing first in north-south!  It was a very nice afternoon, but most of the details escape me at the moment.  One thing that I do remember is that the director called for a 5 minute "hospitality break" in the middle of the session.  That gave people a chance to get up and stretch, get a snack, or catch up on their play if they were behind.  I liked that; I wonder why we don't do that in GR?  

We played mostly defense, which was in our favor because it turns out we are better at that than at offensive play.  Also, even though we went over and over certain conventions and bids that we are trying to incorporate in our game, we did not get to use any of them.  How can we improve if we have so little opportunity to make some types of bids?

GR Sectional Tournament

Day 1, Friday afternoon:  Picture members of an extended family gathering for a holiday celebration.  Many haven't seen each other for awhile, so there are happy greetings and much laughter.  The adults gather around the dining room table, talking over each other because there is so much to catch up on.  Wouldn't it be nice, they think, for the children to sit together and get to know each other better.  After all, they don't see each other very often and besides, there is no room for them at the big table.  So card tables are set up in another part of the house, the kitchen or maybe the living room.  And there the children sit, eyeing each other warily and feeling left out of the real action.

At our very first tournament ever, my partner and I sat with the other non-life master "children" at three card tables in the far corner of a very large room. On the other side were countless tables and many people mingling.  Once in awhile one of the "adults" waved at us or came over to see things were going, but for the most part we were on our own.  We did know one of the other pairs, so that was nice.  And the new people we met were easy going and friendly.   Most were from out of town, so they asked us to recommend a restaurant for dinner.  I told everyone about One Trick Pony, since it is within walking distance of the tournament site and has good food.

The card play was uneventful; I actually missed the more aggressive action that I have become used to at the bridge club.  No one stole our bid, and it was easy to take the bid away from others.  As my partner said, we weren't fighting over one pork chop.  At the end of the session, we ended up in third place.  That was okay, but nothing to get excited about. 

Day 1, Friday evening:  This time we were assigned to play with the general population since there weren't enough people signed up for the non-life master section.  Before we found our table, we chatted with some of our new friends.  I asked the first couple where they had dinner, and they replied "Boston Market."  Boston Market??  Then I had to ask another pair and they said "Brandywine."  Hmm.  Now I had to find someone who took my advice, and eventually I did.   I was starting to wonder if anyone had listened to me!

My partner and I were very comfortable playing with the "grown-ups."  We both felt it was more like playing at the bridge club, but friendlier.  This was surprising since someone had told us that tournament goers were nit-picky, called the director a lot, and were not fun.  In fact, we found the opposite to be true.  I think that the out-of-towners looked at this event as a mini-vacation and were focused on enjoying themselves.  It was interesting to meet new people, and especially nice to see familiar ones.

The bridge hands were computer generated, and someone told us that they were designed to make a point.  I soon realized that these hands were separating the chaff from the wheat; for example, you had to really be on top of things to know you should be in game even though it didn't look like it, or that you were not going to make game even though you had more than enough points.  My partner and I had our best session this evening--we came in second in Division C.  Our first silver points--hurray!

Day 2, Saturday morning:  Here's what happened when we played against the one pair who were not so nice.  Almost as soon as we sat at their table "Fred" said something in a rude tone to his partner, and his bad attitude continued throughout the first board.  During the second board he was the declarer (south) and my LHO (I was sitting east).  As he drew trump he obviously miscounted, because he played the ace of clubs from dummy and I trumped it.  OMG!  He totally lost it.  He barely managed to finish the board before he swept cards off the table in frustration and anger.  As he bent to pick them up, Julie and I quietly got up and left.  We didn't dare look at each other.

When we sat at the next table, we were congratulated for having survived the previous table.  We found out that "Fred" is an excellent player who used to play in the GR bridge club but had been kicked out for bad behavior.  What in the world is wrong with him?  Does he have no self control at all, or does he just not care?

Day 2, afternoon:  The results of our morning session were not good, but the afternoon was better.  However, we did not come close to the Friday evening results.  This coming week Julie and I are going to analyze the games and figure out what we need to do differently.  We are both competitive and determined!  Plus, we each have someone at the club whom we really want to beat.  It is good to have a goal.

 

Roller Coaster

Exuberance and depression; achievement and failure; cleverness and stupidity; progress and regression:  so it went last week at the bridge club.  After a successful Thursday afternoon and a humbling Friday evening, I told my partner I would no longer play on Fridays since the competition was too tough.  I was almost too embarrassed to even play on Thursdays.

We did play the following Thursday, though, and did quite well.  I decided to continue the roller coaster ride and will play again tonight, Friday.  However, I am blogging today just in case there is another rapid drop and the ensuing headache interferes with my composition.  Unlike most writers, I am much more prolific when things are going well.  (You may have noticed my lack of an entry last week.)

So about yesterday's game:  I used a new bid and was pleasantly surprised at how well it worked.  My partner opened 1 heart.  I had 4 high card points, but 5 hearts with a singleton and doubleton.  I bid 4 hearts, successfully shutting out the opponents--but not before they doubled for penalty.  I nervously watched my partner play the hand, and even though we had a total of 17 HCP, it was starting to look like she would make it.  I held my breath, but that didn't help--we went down one, vulnerable and doubled.  Our opponents tried not to look smug, but I could see they were pleased.  After they left the table, I apologized for my bid but my partner kept saying that she thought it was okay, that they must have had something they could have made.  She was right--we got a top board on that one.  

Years ago a friend tricked me into getting on a roller coaster at Disney by convincing me it was "tame" and I would enjoy it.  It was horrible and I survived only by keeping my eyes tightly shut the entire time.  I only hope that I will not be embarking on another ride tonight.

Two Break-Throughs

Thursday afternoon my partner and I were defending against a 3NT contract.  My partner led a low club; the jack and two small clubs were on the board.  I ended up taking the trick with a 10, and I led another club back.  This time the declarer took it with the jack, but when I regained the lead I played another club.  My partner ended up winning several club tricks, and I had a suit to run as well.  Our opponents went down 4 vulnerable, giving us a top board.

The break-through:  For the first time, I was able to visualize my opponent's hand.  When declarer ducked that first club, I knew what to do.

That same afternoon, playing against a different pair, my partner opened 1 heart.  I had 18 points in my hand with 3 hearts (Qxx), 4 spades, 6 clubs, and a void in diamonds.  I pondered what to do.  I knew that 3H was not right, but that's what I ended up bidding because I knew my partner would not pass this (even though it is an invitational bid).  My partner did bid 4H, but what now?  I decided to show my very nice club suit, so I bid 5C.  My partner thought this was Gerber, so she bid 5H to show she had 1 ace.  I thought she was rebidding her heart suit, telling me that she had better than a minimum heart opening.  I wasn't positive we had a slam but I didn't want to miss it if we did, so I bid 6H.  We made 7 and got an excellent board.

The break-through:  Obviously not the crazy bidding, we lucked out there but did discuss it later and thought about what we should have done.  No, the break-through is related to memory.  It is three days later and I still remember my hand and the bidding!  Not that long ago I couldn't remember what I held 5 minutes after the hand was played.  

Progress is a good thing.

Comments Overheard at the Bridge Club this Week

"I need a beer if I'm going to eat those jalepenos."

"How many crocs do you own??"

"They're shouting at each other because neither one of them can hear."

"Mr. Dummy, lay down your cards."

"What is he doing over there playing with newcomers?"

"It wasn't me, it was C/Synthia."

"I don't care that you played out of turn, just please don't call the director."

"So you were the mystery woman in leather!"

"He kicked me under the table when I led an ace."

"I was wondering how far you would go."

And heard every week, at every game:  "There sure are some strange hands today."

Monday Night

My play was perfect.  I had no doubts, no confusion, no missteps--I made my 3NT contract and the way I did it was a thing of beauty.  I tried to keep a smile off my face, I tried to remain impassive and humble, but I could not resist a glance at my LHO, The Director.  Expecting to see a look of approval, I was instead met with a wry half-smile and a sad little shake of the head.   "What?" I asked, all semblance of modesty gone out the window.  "I thought I played that well."  "You did play that very well," came the reply. "It just would have played better in spades."  Sigh.

In another part of the room, my friends Jean and Melissa were having problems of their own.  Melissa looked at a hand full of clubs and few points, so she reached for the bidding box to play 3 clubs.  As she continued to study her hand, she heard her LHO ask Jean what her bid meant.  To her horror she heard her partner reply that it was a strong bid.  Melissa looked down and saw that she had mistakenly pulled out the 2 clubs card.  Jean, looking at 10+ points in her hand, happily bid towards slam while confusion reigned among their opponents, who had the remaining points in their hands.  They went down six.

Bridge--always an adventure!