I played bridge last night

[Bob78164]

Normally I don't play on Wednesdays -- for the last few years I've tried to preserve Wednesday for my family. But at Ms. 63's request, I came home early Tuesday night, so I played last evening instead, with my usual partner (not one of the local pros I've played with).

It was not a good game. And to cap it off, our last round was against the best pair in the room, where the cards gave them two slams. They bid them both, as expected, and hardly anyone else bid either of them, also as expected.

With two boards left to score, we were sitting under 40%. Fortunately, the last two boards were both tops for us, so we finished at around 42%. Still, it was a pretty dreadful game.

I'm looking forward to Sunday, when I have a game with Brian (one of the local pros that I play with). --Bob

[SportsFan68]

I played Tuesday night with a completely new partner, and we also finished around 42%. We had two high boards all to ourselves all night, both on excellent defense.

Offense was hopeless. She's been playing regularly for about 50 years and twice told me I should have recognized something I'd never played. Sheesh! I've only been playing unusual no-trump for about six months. I don't think she'll be partnering with me again anytime soon.

[macrae1234]

She's been playing regularly for about 50 years

Is she a Life Master yet

[Bob78164]

I played Tuesday night with a completely new partner, and we also finished around 42%. We had two high boards all to ourselves all night, both on excellent defense.

Offense was hopeless. She's been playing regularly for about 50 years and twice told me I should have recognized something I'd never played. Sheesh! I've only been playing unusual no-trump for about six months. I don't think she'll be partnering with me again anytime soon.

Part of the art of being a good partner is understanding what it's realistic to expect of one's partner. That's why one of my prouder bridge accomplishments this year was winning our local pro-am (I was the pro). I gave up on many of the gadgets I think are indispensable in a good partnership because I understood that my partner would not have been able to handle them.

She doesn't sound like a good partner. --Bob

[macrae1234]

Back in the 70s when I was playing bridge regularly there was this sweet little old lady who to me in my 20s looked a hundred but was probably only in her mid seventies. She had been playing forever and was not as yet a life master, She needed about 2 or 3 red points and her usual 1 victory in a Swiss Team game for .40 was not going to make it. So 2 friends of mine and I decided to play in the Ottawa Regional Swiss Teams with Dolly. Al who was her partner pulled every sleazy trick he knew, stole every hand he could and master minded us to a 4-3 record going into the final round. 5-3 would put us in the overall about 7th or 8th enough points for Dolly. On the last round poor Al had the misfortune to have his opponents bid a thin, sleazy minor suit slam on the first board where most people would play in 3NT and go down. The next three hands were flat with no opportunity to make back the points. What to do!! Al called the Director to complain about the auction and misinformation provided on the hand. Three boards went to the other table and three boards came to Al. They played those boards while the directors discussed Al’s concerns. In the end time was called on the round and at our table we did not play the board. When our opponents went to compare scores imagine their surprise when their slam did not count. We won the round by 2 and Dolly got her Life Master.

[Bob78164]

Back in the 70s when I was playing bridge regularly there was this sweet little old lady who to me in my 20s looked a hundred but was probably only in her mid seventies. She had been playing forever and was not as yet a life master, She needed about 2 or 3 red points and her usual 1 victory in a Swiss Team game for .40 was not going to make it. So 2 friends of mine and I decided to play in the Ottawa Regional Swiss Teams with Dolly. Al who was her partner pulled every sleazy trick he knew, stole every hand he could and master minded us to a 4-3 record going into the final round. 5-3 would put us in the overall about 7th or 8th enough points for Dolly. On the last round poor Al had the misfortune to have his opponents bid a thin, sleazy minor suit slam on the first board where most people would play in 3NT and go down. The next three hands were flat with no opportunity to make back the points. What to do!! Al called the Director to complain about the auction and misinformation provided on the hand. Three boards went to the other table and three boards came to Al. They played those boards while the directors discussed Al’s concerns. In the end time was called on the round and at our table we did not play the board. When our opponents went to compare scores imagine their surprise when their slam did not count. We won the round by 2 and Dolly got her Life Master.

LOL. Reason number 283 to play quickly. --Bob

[SportsFan68]

She's been playing regularly for about 50 years

Is she a Life Master yet

No, she never joined ACBL.

[SportsFan68]

Back in the 70s when I was playing bridge regularly there was this sweet little old lady who to me in my 20s looked a hundred but was probably only in her mid seventies. She had been playing forever and was not as yet a life master, She needed about 2 or 3 red points and her usual 1 victory in a Swiss Team game for .40 was not going to make it. So 2 friends of mine and I decided to play in the Ottawa Regional Swiss Teams with Dolly. Al who was her partner pulled every sleazy trick he knew, stole every hand he could and master minded us to a 4-3 record going into the final round. 5-3 would put us in the overall about 7th or 8th enough points for Dolly. On the last round poor Al had the misfortune to have his opponents bid a thin, sleazy minor suit slam on the first board where most people would play in 3NT and go down. The next three hands were flat with no opportunity to make back the points. What to do!! Al called the Director to complain about the auction and misinformation provided on the hand. Three boards went to the other table and three boards came to Al. They played those boards while the directors discussed Al’s concerns. In the end time was called on the round and at our table we did not play the board. When our opponents went to compare scores imagine their surprise when their slam did not count. We won the round by 2 and Dolly got her Life Master.

That's a great story! I wish I could think that fast like Al.

I wouldn't pull that stunt, but I still wish I could think that fast.

[macrae1234]

Two senior ladies were playing in a tournament for the first time. As they were discussing their conventions the subject of signals came up and both ladies agreed to play signals. Early in the round one of the ladies started the bidding with one club, Right hand opponent bid 2 spades the other lady doubled which was passed out. As the opponents made their contract the doubler said I thought you played signals, the other lady said I do, the first lady said I hand my hand on my heart for hearts and the other lady said

Spoiler

oh my goodness your hand was on your left tit so I left it

[kusch]

Not so good in the Instant Matchpoint game--54% good for 3rd.

Thoughts on this deal?

Dlr-S
Vul-none

I am south and dealt this:

AJ7
KQ9
Txxx
Axx

1D-X-1H-P
P-P

Ok, I know my partner cannot have 10pts or he would redouble. I just took a view--actually I figured LHO would bid again and my pass was to leave options to my partner.

Partner held:
xx
J865
A
JT9752

Partner makes three hearts and we get 93 matchpoints on the hand.

Most N-S played in 1N or 2 or 3C--1N earns 29 matchpoints and 3C earns 69.

Then this slam we get to.

Dlr-N
Vul-E/W

I hold:
A752
AJ76
A862
x

Bidding goes:

1C-P-1D-P
1S-P-2H* 4th suit force-P
2N-P-3S-P
4N-P-5D--3KC-P
6S-passout

Partner hand:
KQ43
KT8
J
AQ942

He gets the KD lead and does not guess hearts right for down 1. Earn a fine 13 matchpoints. Not a great slam to be in but can be made. No one else bid slam--most were in 4S.

E hand
J98
Q9
KQT
KTxxx

[Bob78164]

Not so good in the Instant Matchpoint game--54% good for 3rd.

Thoughts on this deal?

Dlr-S
Vul-none

I am south and dealt this:

AJ7
KQ9
Txxx
Axx

1D-X-1H-P
P-P

Ok, I know my partner cannot have 10pts or he would redouble.

That's not a good treatment. The problem is that if partner has to redouble to show a good hand, you'll find yourself getting pre-empted. For example, suppose the auction goes 1D-X-XX-3S? You have no idea whether partner has 4, 5, or 6 hearts, 4, 5, or 6 clubs, or just a good balanced hand with interest in penalizing something.

Generally, you should save the redouble for hands that are relatively balanced and therefore more likely to want to sit a penalty double. One-level responses after a takeout double should not deny a good hand.

I just took a view--actually I figured LHO would bid again and my pass was to leave options to my partner.

Partner held:
xx
J865
A
JT9752

Partner makes three hearts and we get 93 matchpoints on the hand.

Most N-S played in 1N or 2 or 3C--1N earns 29 matchpoints and 3C earns 69.

I suspect that good defense holds you to 110, or maybe even 80, which will likely be beaten by plus 90 or plus 120. In short, I suspect that your good result was not due to your bidding, but to getting a better-than-expected result in the contract you landed in.

If they figure out early to attack diamonds, how well does the hand play? If hearts are 4-2 (not unlikely under ordinary circumstances, and still more likely given the takeout double), then declarer can't handle even one tap before losing control.

Then this slam we get to.

Dlr-N
Vul-E/W

I hold:
A752
AJ76
A862
x

Bidding goes:

1C-P-1D-P
1S-P-2H* 4th suit force-P
2N-P-3S-P
4N-P-5D--3KC-P
6S-passout

Partner hand:
KQ43
KT8
J
AQ942

He gets the KD lead and does not guess hearts right for down 1. Earn a fine 13 matchpoints. Not a great slam to be in but can be made. No one else bid slam--most were in 4S.

E hand
J98
Q9
KQT
KTxxx

We've all been in worse slams, but I'd want to be in game. I don't think partner's hand is good enough to jump to Blackwood on this auction. I'd settle for a 4C cue-bid, and then sign off. If slam is a good proposition, partner's going to have to hold enough to bid over my sign-off. With your hand, I'd probably make one try past game, but not two. I like the three aces, but I don't like the 4441 shape. As will become apparent, dealing with the fourth card in a suit is often a pain.

Having said that, assuming that spades broke, he should have brought the slam home. He needs to try real hard to avoid having to ruff dummy's fourth heart because he already needs to trump two of dummy's diamonds. The best play to accomplish this goal is the heart king followed by a low heart to the jack. It pays off on precisely this layout -- because the queen comes down doubleton, you will take your four heart tricks with the king, ace, ten, and jack (in that order). You trump two diamonds, draw trump, and claim, losing a diamond at the end. Unfortunately, if you play it that way, you'll have trouble drawing the last trump.

Timing is a little tight. Best is to ruff a diamond immediately, take the heart hook (if it loses or if hearts don't break, you have the club hook in reserve to pitch the board's last diamond, with possible squeeze chances as well), ruff a second diamond and cash two trump. Then you have a decision to make. If you ruff a club to draw the last trump (pitching a club from hand), you won't be able to untangle the hearts. Fortunately, the fall of the 9 on the first round of the suit simplifies matters, if you trust it. Ruff a club to the board to draw the last trump, cross the the king of hearts, and when the queen falls, overtake the 10 with the ace to cash the 7. The 13th trick is a diamond, which you'll lose. --Bob

[dodgersteve182]

Happy 80th Birthday! You sure look great for your age!

I am shopping at The Scooter Store on my next birthday!

[peacock2121]

I bet this is how some people feel when I talk on and on about golf.

[Bob78164]

I bet this is how some people feel when I talk on and on about golf.

Probably not (if you literally meant "talk"). During a face-to-face conversation, courtesy often demands that your audience at least pretend to pay attention. On the Bored, anyone who wants to can ignore us bridge players, just as others ignore political discussions.

So I view a remark of this nature on the Bored as a good-hearted attempt to yank my chain, whereas in person I'd be concerned it was meant seriously. --Bob

[dodgersteve182]

I bet this is how some people feel when I talk on and on about golf.

Probably not (if you literally meant "talk"). During a face-to-face conversation, courtesy often demands that your audience at least pretend to pay attention. On the Bored, anyone who wants to can ignore us bridge players, just as others ignore political discussions.

So I view a remark of this nature on the Bored as a good-hearted attempt to yank my chain, whereas in person I'd be concerned it was meant seriously. --Bob

Surely guilty of "chain yanking" here ! As for older people, Bridge certainly is a good way of keeping their minds active. Where my 90 year old aunt lives, her activities board has stuff like Bingo and Trivia Night as well.
Funny I was telling Mrs. DS a few days ago about my Pinnacle Days when I was a young teen. She looked at me like I had just landed from another planet!