Gatlinburg: Year II

"All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go..." I am echoing Peter, Paul and Mary this morning as I prepare for my second trip to the Gatlinburg tournament. My bags are indeed packed, but instead of getting ready for the long drive I feel the need to chronicle this event. And to drink coffee.

Amadeus is watching me suspiciously (he has noticed the suitcase in the living room), while Athena appears oblivious. My helpful neighbor will be coming over daily to feed  and water them, and to keep them company. She says they appear for their treat and then they ignore her.

Several people from the Grand Rapids club are already at the tournament, presumably gearing up for the first game. Julie and I were texting for a while during her groups' drive (they were approaching Cincinnati at the time). When I reported that I had just killed an ugly spider, she told me to find something to do. I haven't heard from her since.

This year I'm partnering with Lee. We don't have a team for knockouts, but hopefully something will come together. Our plans for the drive include chit chat, bridge talk, audio books, and music. I'm thinking there will also be snacks involved. Oh, and did you know that AAA still does trip tiks?? Yes, we will be navigating the old fashioned way, using paper maps!

Enough procrastinating, Lee will be here soon so I need to get ready. Next time you hear from me I'll be in Tennessee!!

Day 6: Random Observations

After a young man had caddied for the first time, he told his parents that he had never before seen so many weird people in one place at the same time.

Some people don’t play in the side games because they don’t think they get their money’s worth when only 24 boards are in play.

A director was called because the opponent had opened 1 NT with a small singleton.  When the director arrived, the opener protested that it was no big deal, she did it all the time.  “Is it on your convention card?  Do you alert it?” The director’s questions were met with silence.

There are a lot of places in Gatlinburg where you can sample different flavors of moonshine (corn liquor) for free.  There are also a lot of places that sell strange purses.  Make what you will of these (unrelated?) facts.

As the week progressed, the general mood of the tournament seemed to change from relaxed and happy to include some elements of tense and crabby.  For example, some people thought they weren’t getting their money’s worth because they didn’t declare very often.  But you will be relieved to know that everyone I saw from Michigan remained cheerful and were having fun, especially members of my team.

I kept running into players who said, “We just met some other people from Grand Rapids.  They were the nicest couple!”   “Was it the Burpees?” I learned to ask.  Because it always was. 

People from Long Island were amazed at the $5 cost of playing bridge at the Grand Rapids club.  They pay $20 at their club, although they were quick to point out that this includes a catered lunch.  They considered the $11 tournament entry fees a bargain.

Every time we played, we got some sort of little prize:  a chocolate bear on a stick, candy fruit, a USB light (most people didn’t know what this was, but Kathy got very excited and tried to steal mine), gourmet chocolates, and dollar coupons for the food stand (we mostly used these for coffee).  I heard that the budget was $11 a table for these favors, and there were hundreds of tables.  We also got flashlights when we registered and free play coupons when we won the knockout.  A man from Louisville reminded me that at the Nationals there we got Magic 8 Balls that displayed bids.  “How embarrassing,” he said.  “I guess someone must have thought it was a good idea.”

Most interesting of all, I saw a mama bear and her cub.  No, not at the tournament—although that would have been quite exciting.  It was in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Day 5: Friday

I smiled as I saw Doug’s jaw drop.  He sat across the table from me and looked at my bid of 6 spades, shaking his head.  I heard his thoughts as clearly as if he had said them aloud:  “What the heck???”  See, Doug had opened 2 spades, debating if he should even bid that given how weak he was.  I had responded 2 NT, asking for a feature.  He had rebid his spades, saying, in effect, “I don’t have anything, partner.”  That’s when I went to slam.

What Doug didn’t know, but found out when I laid down dummy, was that I had 28 high card points.  28 points that included the king and queen of spades.  I have never had a hand like that—how could I NOT go to slam? 

At the other table (remember, we were playing in knockouts), North did not open 2 spades.  They got to the 6 spades another way, and of course it made.  So that board was a wash.

Just a few minutes later my right hand opponent opened 3 diamonds (weak).  I had another monster hand, “only” 19 points this time but with a 6 card heart suit and a singleton ace of diamonds.  I doubled and planned to rebid my hearts.  Doug would know I had a big hand and if at all possible, he would put me in game and maybe slam.

At this point Doug’s pen exploded.  Parts went flying everywhere and had to be retrieved.  There was a brief discussion of “cheap pens” and the banks that handed them out.  North in particular was sympathetic; it seems the same has happened to him.  Three of us turned our attention back to the table while Doug tried to put his pen back together.  Focus, Doug, I silently urged while South passed.  At least look up!  To my surprise and relief, he looked over the bidding and jumped to 4 hearts.  As North thought about his next bid, Doug turned back to his pen.  Put that thing down!  I silently commanded.  North passed and I bid 4 NT, asking for key cards.  Doug’s head whipped around—I had finally gotten his attention. He put the pen down and rebid 5 diamonds, saying he had 0 key cards.

I went to 6 hearts anyway.  Doug looked at me nervously; the opponents looked bemused but not unhappy.  All of that changed a minute later when I laid out dummy.  “I don’t know why I asked about key cards,” I said, “since I have them all.”

6 hearts was made at both tables, but we were the only ones who bid it.  Unfortunately, we lost the round anyway.  We came in tied for 3^rd/4^th and got about 6 gold points.

PS:  Doug threw away the pen.

Thursday: A Note From Kathy

This is my first regional and I am thoroughly enjoying it.  Sue put this this whole thing together because she knew both Margaret and I needed lots of Gold.  She did a great job of organizing our team.

I started this tournament with 1.08 Gold and 391.25 total points.  I never thought I would get enough gold for my life master in my very first regional tournament.  Here are my totals so far:

·        Monday/Tuesday KO (knockout), took first place 15.31 Gold  (total 16.39)

·        Tuesday/Wednesday morning compact KO, Sue and I played with Karen and Don from the Kalamazoo club.  We placed third with an additional 4.35 Gold (total 20.74)

·        Wednesday Gold Rush, Margaret and I received .54 red but gold

·        Thursday/Friday KO (Margaret, Doug, Sue, Kathy) we won the afternoon and evening sessions so we are guaranteed at least 6.91 for 3rd or 4^th place (1^st will received 17.28).  Margaret will let you know on Friday where we placed.

That means I have a guaranteed 27.65 GOLD

You would think I would be breaking out the champagne as we did on Tuesday when Margaret received her life master.   Unfortunately we are having to make do with Captain Morgan Spiced Rum because I still need  1.85 Silver. I have to wait until the Grand Rapids Sectional to try to get those silver points.  I will be accepting all gifts.

Day 3: Wednesday

I hate distributional hands.  Yesterday evening I had three of those nasty things in one session.

#1:  I had 5 hearts and 5 spades with 14 high card points.  Not bad, I thought.  I opened a spade, my partner supported me.  The opponents interfered; should I rebid 3 or 4?  I was feeling frisky so went to 4.  Please understand that I know I shouldn’t base a bid on whether I “feel” like it, but I have a hard time evaluating hands like these.  How much are they worth?  More than point count, certainly.  Well, I was down 2 for a bad board.

#2:  Just a couple of boards later I looked at my hand and saw 5 hearts and 6 diamonds with 12 high card points.  Oh no, I thought.  Not again.  This time it was even more distributional but with fewer points.  I sighed to myself and dutifully opened a heart.  My partner said 1 NT, I rebid 2 diamonds and she said 3 diamonds.  Not again, I said to myself (again) and I passed.  I made 5, but at least this time it was an average board.

#3:  Then came the most horrible hand of the series.  I had 6 hearts headed by the king/queen and 4 clubs (ace/jack) with 16 points.  I know you are thinking that you would love to have this hand, but remember, it all depends on what everyone else is holding.  And what they were holding and bidding was not good for me.  The opponent in front of me opened a heart. What??? I passed.  His partner said 1 spade, pass, pass, back to me.  I couldn’t let them play it in 1 spade, my hand would have been worthless.  My only other possible bid was 2 clubs so I boldly made it.  I went down 3 for a bottom board.  Here’s the kicker…when I checked the hand record, my opponent had opened 1 heart with 4 hearts and 7 points.

We ended the game at 55% and won .54 red.

How do you think Team Minder did this evening?

Day 2: Tuesday

We are now in the finals! If we win this evening, I will have enough gold to be a life master!  But I am getting ahead of myself; first, this morning.

Doug and I played in a compact knock-out (meaning it’s shorter than a regular knock-out) with Cristi and Barb.  We won the first round, but alas, our opponents proved to be too much for us and we were knocked out during the second round.  Kathy and Susan are winning in their compact knock-out, which continues tomorrow morning.  Don’t tell anyone, but I’m kind of glad I get to relax tomorrow morning (but I still wish we had won).

The afternoon went better.  We played against the nicest, funniest people.  It also helped that I got a lot of good cards, and for the first time this tournament I was often the declarer.  As any of my regular partners can tell you, I am better at playing the hand than at defense.  Here’s an example of how the bidding went for one hand, and how it would have been different in a pairs game.

I opened 2 clubs and waited for my partner to bid 2 diamonds (waiting).  What should my rebid be?  I was loathe to bid 2 NT since I had a singleton spade; it would have to be clubs.  I had 5 really nice ones.  To my surprise, Doug bid 2 spades.  I knew this meant he had a spade suit and enough points to think about slam.  Obviously we couldn’t play it in spades, so we were probably headed for no trump.  I decided to show him my clubs, and then imagined his response and my rebid.  I ran several scenarios through my head, but he came up with a bid I hadn’t planned for:  6 clubs.  I passed, played the hand and easily made 7. 

At our partners’ table, the opponents were in a risky 6 NT contract, which they made only because 3 necessary finesses worked.  So yes, their score was higher than ours and they got 2 whole imps, hardly worth the possibility of going down.  Later Doug said that in a pairs game he would have gone slower and explored for no trump, but not in a team game.  The best contract is the safest contract.

I’m learning a lot about team game strategies and am very appreciative of my smart, experienced team members.