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.
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Saturday, April 28, 2012
GR Sectional II
Towards the end of a grueling two-session day of playing bridge with bad cards, I picked up yet another hand with barely 3 points. This was the second day in a row of few honors and it was too much. I snapped.
"I can't take this anymore!" I shouted and threw my cards down on the table. Heads craned to see what was going on. I stood up, knocking my chair over. "That's it! I have had enough!" I stomped out of the room, leaving behind my confused and concerned partner.
The imagined look in my partner's eyes was the only thing that kept me from enacting this scene. I wasn't worried about any backlash, since anyone sitting south would understand my breakdown.
"I know exactly how she feels," many would report.
"That would have been me if I hadn't had a shot of vodka at lunch," certain people would admit.
Even north would sympathize and discuss what they had witnessed at their tables. "I could see my partner's eyes glazing over" and "South wasn't even putting the 'pass' cards away anymore between hands" would be typical comments.
I was hopeful that even east-west pairs would be understanding, since they were having issues of their own. The most common problem seemed to be miscommunication around conventions, but there were others as well. I don't think I would have been banned from the club, either, since our director was playing and also experiencing the stress.
No, it was the thought of my partner sitting alone at the bridge table that kept me in my seat. First and foremost, bridge is a partnership game and I couldn't abandon Dee. I thought about it, though.
"I can't take this anymore!" I shouted and threw my cards down on the table. Heads craned to see what was going on. I stood up, knocking my chair over. "That's it! I have had enough!" I stomped out of the room, leaving behind my confused and concerned partner.
The imagined look in my partner's eyes was the only thing that kept me from enacting this scene. I wasn't worried about any backlash, since anyone sitting south would understand my breakdown.
"I know exactly how she feels," many would report.
"That would have been me if I hadn't had a shot of vodka at lunch," certain people would admit.
Even north would sympathize and discuss what they had witnessed at their tables. "I could see my partner's eyes glazing over" and "South wasn't even putting the 'pass' cards away anymore between hands" would be typical comments.
I was hopeful that even east-west pairs would be understanding, since they were having issues of their own. The most common problem seemed to be miscommunication around conventions, but there were others as well. I don't think I would have been banned from the club, either, since our director was playing and also experiencing the stress.
No, it was the thought of my partner sitting alone at the bridge table that kept me in my seat. First and foremost, bridge is a partnership game and I couldn't abandon Dee. I thought about it, though.
Friday, April 27, 2012
Grand Rapids Sectional
The Grand Rapids Sectional marks the end of the semester and the beginning of more bridge. Yesterday I played in the afternoon pairs game and the evening Swiss Teams with Dee. Julie is in Charleston for a long weekend, so Dee--who also plays regularly with Julie--kindly agreed to partner with me for the tournament. The three of us play the same conventions, so playing with Dee was almost like playing with Julie. The main difference, as Dee noted, was that she wears socks and Julie does not. (Julie reports that her feet do not sweat and do not get cold; apparently this is not the case with Dee.)
The afternoon game had us seated in a noisy corner where we had to share boards with another table (after continually waiting to get them from a slow table). In addition, Dee was positioned to see directly into the men's bathroom. However, these distractions did not keep us from playing a decent game and we ended up first in C.
The most interesting pair we played fit the mold of many rude/cranky players. Obviously I do not mean interesting in a good way. When these two first sat down, they were very friendly and talkative--a bit too talkative, as I wished they would settle down and let me focus on my cards. However, when the play started going downhill for them, they turned that friendly chatter into accusations against each other.
"You should have had better diamonds!" West said, gritting her teeth.
"I never said I had diamonds, I told you I had hearts!" East defended angrily. "Why did you go to No Trump?"
They left our table in a huff, quite differently from the way they arrived. They fit the mold of other grouchy players--friendly when things are going well, awful when things are not going their way.
The evening Swiss Teams did not go so well for us, but then we played three A teams and one B team. It was tough going but we won one game. We played against one particularly nice pair. Oddly enough, they made me nervous (and I don't usually get nervous). They were top players and very kind and funny. This made the play very enjoyable, and although we lost it wasn't by much.
There are many more stories to tell about yesterday, but now it is time for me to leave for today's games. Wish me luck!
The afternoon game had us seated in a noisy corner where we had to share boards with another table (after continually waiting to get them from a slow table). In addition, Dee was positioned to see directly into the men's bathroom. However, these distractions did not keep us from playing a decent game and we ended up first in C.
The most interesting pair we played fit the mold of many rude/cranky players. Obviously I do not mean interesting in a good way. When these two first sat down, they were very friendly and talkative--a bit too talkative, as I wished they would settle down and let me focus on my cards. However, when the play started going downhill for them, they turned that friendly chatter into accusations against each other.
"You should have had better diamonds!" West said, gritting her teeth.
"I never said I had diamonds, I told you I had hearts!" East defended angrily. "Why did you go to No Trump?"
They left our table in a huff, quite differently from the way they arrived. They fit the mold of other grouchy players--friendly when things are going well, awful when things are not going their way.
The evening Swiss Teams did not go so well for us, but then we played three A teams and one B team. It was tough going but we won one game. We played against one particularly nice pair. Oddly enough, they made me nervous (and I don't usually get nervous). They were top players and very kind and funny. This made the play very enjoyable, and although we lost it wasn't by much.
There are many more stories to tell about yesterday, but now it is time for me to leave for today's games. Wish me luck!
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Hiatus
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.
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.
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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