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Fireside Chat
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FIRESIDE CHAT JANUARY 2004
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Welcome and Announcements
Believer's FireSide Kindling
Bidding with Bridgboy
Hand of the Month
Fifee's SolidGold
Moogal's FireSide Log
Treble's Table Talk
And Finally Kaltica
=======================================
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Hi all!
Welcome to the January, 2004 issue of FireSide
Chat, our monthly newsletter written for and about
our FireSide friends and events.
We hope you enjoy all of this month's articles and
features. Please feel free to write to us with any
comments, questions, ideas, or whatever, that you may
wish to share. This newsletter is for and about you,
and we want you to feel welcome to participate. Just
email Believer at sarastobbe@aol.com or Moogal
at moocake@bellsouth.net.
A special thanks to all of you who have been sending
us contributions for our "giggle breaks". We appreciate
everything you send, and use as many as we can. Keep
'em coming, please! :-)
You can find current and past issues of this "FireSide
Chat" newsletter posted at our FireSide web site:
http://www.firesides.net/thechat.htm
If, for any reason, you do not wish to receive
these mailings, please write to Believer at
sarastobbe@aol.com to be removed from our mailing
list.
===========================================
CURRENT FIRESIDE SCHEDULE
Day Pacific Time Commentator
MON 11:00 A.M. POOKA
MON 5:00 P.M.* BRIDGBOY
TUE 11:00 A.M. BRIDGBOY
TUE 5:30 P.M. WINTAKA
WED 11:00 A.M. FREDW3
WED 5:30 P.M. DIANEW
THU 11:00 A.M. POOKA
THU 5:30 P.M. WISHTRIK
FRI 11:00 A.M. BLUEBEE
FRI 5:30 P.M. KALTICA
Commentators may change without notice,
according to their availability.
(*starts 1/2 hour earlier on Monday night)
*******************
Although there is no set fee for participating in
these "open to all" sessions, please note that FireSide
Bidding Practice Sessions operate with the support of
those in attendance. For information about how to
become a supporting member, please contact Kaltica at
kaltica@mts.net, Moogal at moocake@bellsouth.net,
or Believer at sarastobbe@aol.com.
Thanks to all of you for supporting the FireSide sessions
in all the many different ways you have of doing so.
We want to thank our commentators for their dedication
and caring. Please, think of them when you are thinking
of taking private lessons, paying a professional to play
tourneys with you, getting involved in a group session
mentoring program... most, if not all, of our commentators
and contributors to this newsletter are available for those
services. Just think how much easier it is to learn
from someone who's already a friend!
*******************
All articles herein (c) 2004 by FireSide Chat.
All rights reserved.
===============================================
BELIEVER'S FIRESIDE KINDLING
============================
Happy New Year!
I hope the new year brings you health and happiness,
and some exciting bridge experiences that you'll
want to share with us. Remember that this is YOUR
newsletter, and we love it when you write in and
share with us. We're happy to publish any bridge
stories, or any personal items you'd like to share
with the rest of our readers. We love hearing from
you! So, sit down and write us a note when you have
something to share with us!
I have some great memories of 2003 -- going to Long
Beach for the Nationals and getting together with
Guido, Ian, and JustJill, running into Gail37 and
DavidRG, and Bridgboy and Patricia, DianeW and
Wishtrick. Going to Calgary for their regional in
August and visiting with Kaltica, Moogal, Pooka,
Dloye, Frodo, GoFigure, Wintaka, FPDoc and some
others I can't think of right now... it was a great
summer!
I hope 2004 brings me more memories to cherish :-)
Bridge is more than "just a game"... to me it's a
great way to meet and get to know some pretty special
people. I hope I get a chance to meet some more of
our OKb friends this year.
We're planning to go to Hilton Head for their regional
the beginning of February. If anyone is going to be
there, please drop me an email so I can look for you.
If I don't find some OKb friends to visit with, I might
have to play bridge! :-) Just kidding, I'll find time
to play anyway, at least once or twice!
I hope you get to meet and spend some time with some
special people this year, too :-)
********************
You can write to Believer (Sara Stobbe) at:
sarastobbe@aol.com
===============================================
GIGGLE BREAK
Thanks to Benson for this one:
(must be a bridge player!)
Bill meets Doug shopping at the mall and sees he has a small gift
wrapped box.
"It's my wife's birthday tomorrow." Doug said. "Last week I asked
her what she wanted for her birthday."
"And???" Bill asked.
"Well, she said 'Oh, I don't know just give me something with
diamonds in it'."
"So what did you get her?" asked Bill.
Doug replies, "I bought her a deck of cards!
=================================================
BIDDING WITH BRIDGBOY
=====================
Recently, we discussed the concept of fit and the importance
of discovering if one existed. We did not define duplication
of values, but any player who has sat helplessly with a void
across from the AKQ of that suit, while the opponents cash
winners in a different suit, will know exactly what I mean. In
prior months we have also mentioned that bidding just to hear
yourself speak and make noise only aids the opponents and
allows them to better visualize the cards around the table.
Here is a hand that points out both ideas clearly. We pick up:
S 432
H AJ952
D Q92
C A8
And the auction goes as follows:
Partner RHO You LHO
1D P 1H 1S
2H 2S ?
Both opponents are bidding spades so we can see partner's
relative shortness there. Perhaps spades could be 5-4-3-1
around the table, and we should be very encouraged about
prospects for this hand now. I suggest a bid of 3D to let
partner in on the good fit we have there. It is 100% forcing
and encouraging. Now lefty makes another of those silly 3S
calls that do nothing but help reinforce for us that partner
has that stiff spade! 4S might try and shut us up, but this is
taking up no room at all. Partner freely bids 4H and that is
all we need to hear. Give partner an opening bid and a stiff
spade now please!! Can we now visualize that all his points
will be in the other three suits exactly where we need them?
In fact, you should be thinking slam once you place the high
cards in his hand.
No big surprise, here is his hand:
S x
H KQxx
D AKJxx
C xxx
As you can see 12 tricks roll in. Now, I don't want anyone
crying in the back saying but how could I know he had just the
right cards for me! All we did was listen and visualize the
unseen hands. The fit was there and we had all the side
controls and a source of tricks to make slam a good
proposition.
We were aided by the opponents' spade bids, for sure, but that
is why opponents were put on this earth -- namely to help us
get top scores! Look for those fits, and when you see them
expect good things to happen for your side!
********************
You can find Bridgboy (Bob Lavin) doing his FireSide
sessions on Monday evenings at 5:00 p.m., and Tuesdays
at 11:00 a.m. OKbridge time.
Anyone interested in one-on-one lessons on any topic of
the game may contact Bob at bridgboy@charter.net
==============================================================
GIGGLE BREAK
Thanks to PamA for this giggle:
Cleaning House
Now I know you are a fastidious house keeper and need no help
whatsoever. However, you may be very glad to get these cleaning
tips.
Dirt: Layers of dirty film on windows and screens provide a
helpful filter against harmful and aging rays from the sun. Call
it an SPF factor of 15 and leave it alone.
Cobwebs: Cobwebs artfully draped over lampshades reduce the glare
from the bulb, thereby creating a romantic atmosphere. If your
husband points out that the light fixtures need dusting, simply
look confused and exclaim, "What? And spoil the mood?" (I just
throw glitter on them & call them holiday decorations).
Pet Hair: Explain the mound of pet hair brushed up against the
doorways by claiming you are collecting it there to use for
stuffing hand-sewn play animals for underprivileged children
(Also keeps out cold drafts in winter.)
Guests: If unexpected company is coming, pile everything
unsightly into one room and close the door. As you show your
guests through your tidy home, rattle the door knob vigorously,
fake a growl, and say, "I'd love you to see our den, but Fluffy
hates to be disturbed, and the shots are SO expensive."
Dusting: If dusting is REALLY out of control, simply place a
showy urn on the coffee table and insist, "This is where Grandma
wanted us to scatter her ashes."
Painting: Don't bother repainting. Simply scribble lightly over a
dirty wall with an assortment of crayons and try to muster a
glint of tears as you say,
"Junior did this when he was 3 years old, and I haven't had the
heart to clean it."
General Cleaning: Mix one-quarter cup pine-scented household
cleaner with four cups of water in a spray bottle. Mist the air
lightly. Leave dampened rags in conspicuous locations. Develop an
exhausted look, throw yourself on the couch, and sigh, "I clean
and I clean, and I still don't get anywhere."
As a last resort, light the oven, throw a teaspoon of cinnamon in
a pie pan, turn off oven and explain that you have been baking
cookies for a bake sale for a favorite charity and haven't had
time to clean... Works every time.
If the house is clean, the computer has crashed. ("A clean house
is a sign of a broken computer.")
===========================================================
HAND OF THE MONTH
=================
This month we are thrilled to present our 'Hand of the Month'
feature, with a big "thank you" to Gail Wix for formatting
it for us.
From The 2003 Daily Bridge Calendar. For more information
call 1-888-453-1976, or email: calendar@interlog.com
********************
Vul: N/S North
Dlr: E S AKT753
H Q62
D AK9
C 2
South
S Q4
H AKJ5
D QT632
C 54
West North East South
1D
2C 2S 5C* P
P 6D** all pass
*Shows 13 cards at this vulnerability.
**Enough!
Opening Lead CK
Q: When is an unfinesseable trump honor finesseable?
A: When you know the secret.
West leads the CK and continues with the CQ, which you ruff low
in dummy. You cash the DA and both follow low. But when you
cash the DK, West discards a club. (What did you think, both
were going to follow?)
Plan the play from here.
********************
S AKT753
H Q62
D AK9
C 2
S 62 S J98
H 98743 H T
D 4 D J875
C AKQ98 C JT763
S Q4
H AKJ5
D QT632
C 54
Contract: 6D Lead: CK
*******************
In order to finesse an "unfinessable" trump honor, two steps
are necessary: (a)reduce your trump length to the same length
as your opponent; (b) end up in dummy at trick twelve. So
let's do it!
Cross to the SQ, return to the SA and ruff a spade. Step one
is now completed -- you and East both have 2 trump. Step 2
coming up. Cross to the HQ and start playing winning spades.
If East trumps, you over- trump, draw the last trump and claim
as all of your hearts are high. If East refuses to trump any
of dummy's 3 winning spades, you will discard three hearts and
still be in dummy at trick twelve. When you play a heart from
dummy, East trumps, you overtrump, and take the last two
tricks.
********************
Hand and analysis by Eddie Kantar, courtesy of the Daily Bridge
Calendar, published by Ashlar House Inc.,Brampton, ON, Canada.
Reprinted with permission. (Special thanks to Lee Daugherty
and Dann Kramer.)
===========================================================
GIGGLE BREAK
Thanks again to Benson for this one:
NOTICES!
Spotted in a toilet of a London office:
TOILET OUT OF ORDER. PLEASE USE FLOOR BELOW
In a Laundromat:
AUTOMATIC WASHING MACHINES: PLEASE REMOVE ALL YOUR CLOTHES WHEN
THE LIGHT GOES OUT
In a London department store:
BARGAIN BASEMENT UPSTAIRS
In an office:
WOULD THE PERSON WHO TOOK THE STEP LADDER YESTERDAY PLEASE BRING
IT BACK OR FURTHER STEPS WILL BE TAKEN
In an office:
AFTER TEA BREAK STAFF SHOULD EMPTY THE TEAPOT AND STAND UPSIDE
DOWN ON THE DRAINING BOARD
Outside a secondhand shop:
WE EXCHANGE ANYTHING - BICYCLES, WASHING MACHINES, ETC. WHY NOT
BRING YOUR WIFE ALONG AND GET A WONDERFUL BARGAIN?
Notice in health food shop window:
CLOSED DUE TO ILLNESS
Spotted in a safari park:
ELEPHANTS PLEASE STAY IN YOUR CAR
Seen during a conference:
FOR ANYONE WHO HAS CHILDREN AND DOESN'T KNOW IT, THERE IS A DAY
CARE ON THE 1ST FLOOR
Notice in a field:
THE FARMER ALLOWS WALKERS TO CROSS THE FIELD FOR FREE, BUT THE
BULL CHARGES
============================================================
FIFEE'S SOLIDGOLD
=================
Hand Evaluation
By Patricia Anderson
The science of bridge bidding is all about finding the
appropriate trump suit and measuring how many tricks your side
can take. On some occasions you may have a hand where you can
easily count winners or losers. The rest of the time a point
count method should be used to estimate the hand's trick-taking
potential.
HCP or High Card Points - we use the standard ace = 4 points,
etc., but this scale should be adjusted downward for unguarded
honors, singleton aces and kings. Qx or Jx are far less valuable
than QJxx when we have no other information available to us. So
we add value to the hand for well placed honor cards in longer
suits and for sequential honor placement and positional value.
Therefore, AT9852 or KJT973 should be worth more than 4 HCP.
Hands are also evaluated using Dummy Points by the supporting
partner whose hand will be the dummy. Trick-taking potential
increases greatly when you can show support for partner's suit
and you are short in a side suit. When you are supporting partner
's suit, we recommend that you count a void as five points,
singletons as three points and doubletons as one. Please note
this is only when you are raising partner's suit.
Distribution Points are added when we hold long suits in an
attempt to measure their trick-taking potential. Normal
distribution points are three points for a void, two points for a
singleton, and one point for a doubleton.
Remember discussing HCP is just a simple measuring tool for the
trick-taking potential of a hand with bland distribution. If a
hand has extra potential because of probable winners in long
suits, add to its value. Honors well placed in a hand, such as
ace/king combinations, are much more valuable heading long suits
than as doubletons.
Which hand is more valuable:
S AK9765
H AQ63
D T4
C 6
or:
S AK
H A
D T97654
C Q763
Hand A is much more valuable than Hand B because our HCP are in
our long suits. We would much rather have a singleton deuce than
a singleton Ace and have the Ace in another longer suit. A
singleton Ace is not always worth 4 HCP and singleton value, too.
Be careful when evaluating this holding.
Potential ruffs in short suits enhance the value of a hand
considerably if a good fit is established. This will add value to
a hand. The ideal case is when you and partner bid your first
suits, then you find a strong fit with his second suit. Listen to
this bidding:
Partner You
1S 2C
2H
and you hold:
S 7
H KQT4
D 2
C AK98753
You are delighted to hear 2H from partner! This hand should make
4H easily and may even make slam!
The favorable positioning of honors behind a bidding opponent add
value. Consider the hand:
S KT7
H AQT3
D KT94
C A6
Your partner opens 1C and your opponent overcalls 1H. This hand
is now worth more than 12 HCP. You position for heart holding
behind the 1H overcall is fantastic! Plus, take time to count the
hand
Partner opened showing 13+
Your hand 16
For a total of 29+ between you. Add the opponent's hand who
overcalled 1H showing 8+. Now you have a total of at least 37
points. Your other opponent is almost broke. Very valuable
information when bidding and especially when declaring this hand.
We should adjust high card count accordingly for all these
previous circumstances.
On the other hand, the trick-taking potential of a hand is hurt
by finessable honors being "under a key opponent." You hold the
following hand:
S KQ76
H KJ3
D KJ94
C 62
You open 1D and your left hand opponent overcalls 1H. Now you
must rethink your 13 HCP, because you are 'under a key opponent'
and your heart holding is not as valuable with your opponent's
overcall 'behind' you. Use caution with this hand.
The value of a hand is further decreased when some honor cards
are "unguarded." Listen to the bidding and use common sense when
evaluating your hand for subsequent bidding.
For the major suit opening hand, HCP guidelines apply to 5-3-3-2
hands. The hands that are balanced but contain longer suits
should be worth extra. A hand with 7-2-2-2 distribution should be
counted as potentially having a couple of extra points.
Hand evaluation can employ many different techniques. Goldway
methods which we prefer give extra significance to longer suits,
but not counting extra points for short suits unless a fit has
been established.
Good luck at the tables! Please feel free to email me at
AndersonsCorner@charter.net with any questions or comments. I
will be moderating a Fifth Chair SAYC table on Sundays at 9 am
OKB time starting January 4th. Look forward to seeing you there.
===========================================================
GIGGLE BREAK
Thanks to Petunia for this one:
At a dinner party, one of the guests pulled the host aside
and asked, "Do lemons have feathers?" "No, I don't believe
so," the host replied. The guest sheepishly responded,
"Then I'm afraid I just squeezed your canary into my drink."
=============================================================
MOOGAL'S FIRESIDE LOG
=====================
Fireside News
GATOR 2004!
Mark your calendars now! Our third annual Gator event
will be held March 6-7 2004. If you participated last year,
you know how much fun it is, and we hope this year will be
even more successful. Take a look at:
www.firesides.net/gator.htm
for a wrap up of last year's results and complete info
on how this works. We hope to have this year's line-
up ready soon, so you can start buying shares in
the OKB celebrity of your choice. You'll get to
play with some stars, if you wish, or just be there
to run the show for your team. And all proceeds
benefit on-line bridge education through the
Fireside fund. You'll be sorry if you miss out!:) So
save the date and watch this space for further info!
*************************************
OKB Tourneys
Well done to all our Fireside friends who excelled in
the tourneys this past month!!
Tue Dec 9 08:30 PM
Rank Team Score Boards
1 HALM/tuna 74.85 12
Thu Dec 11 02:00 PM
Rank Team Score Boards
1 pringle/Unicorn 71.02 11
Fri Dec 19 07:00 PM
Rank Team Score Boards
1 fredw3/ranta 65.97 18
Wed Dec 24 11:00 AM
Rank Team Score Boards
1 Kaltica/moogal 65.33 11
Sat Dec 27 04:00 PM
Rank Team Score Boards
1 dannii/DCorn 3.39 12
Sun Dec 28 04:00 PM
Rank Team Score Boards
1 fpdoc/POOKA 1.67 26
There are now 12 tourneys a day, not possible for me
to check each one....so if you win a tourney, let me
know! We want everyone's name up in lights!
****************************************************************
NOVICE MENTOR TOURNEYS
Congrats to our winners of the two Novice-Mentor tourneys in
December.
And well done to all our top finishers:
Thu Dec 11 06:00 PM
Rank Team Score Boards
1 bimba/memi 65.38 20
2 ceil/orvar 60.53 19
3 alan524/PollyE 54.50 20
4 sha/wandaw 53.68 19
5 luvlee2b/pillow 51.38 20
6 arrow/ojab/TournNov 50.13 20
7 LFoss/pjcarp 50.13 20
Sat Dec 20 12:00 PM
Rank Team Score Boards
1 andyh/sena 68.08 20
2 eagle123/symy 58.17 20
3 Desiree/ecofin 57.50 14
4 baarda/LFoss 56.75 20
5 mcqt/www 50.58 20
6 emilgold/marcus 50.00 19
Mentors and novices, join us this month on the 8th
and on the 17th - email Sandra at sandree@attbi.com
if you would like to find a partner ahead of time.
We'll do our best to match you up! I promise
you a fun game.
****************************************************************
FIRESIDE'S MENTOR CUP GAME
Our December winners are:
11-14-2003 TEAM ANDRE55: Andre55, JanetE, Hawes & Jundith
11-28-2003 TEAM JERRYB: JerryB, Hawes, David100 & Doria
Visit our website at www.firesides.net/mtc.htm for info and
lists of all our top placing stars. To get on the email reminder
list for these games, contact us at firesider@aol.com - all
welcome!
****************************************************************
Get well wishes go out to Laurie (BAGEL27) who is
beginning chemotherapy treatments this month. The Fireside
rooting section sends its support and love to our dear
friend, and we hope to see her online for some bridge
therapy very soon. Our thoughts and prayers are with
her!
****************************************************************
I missed this in the report on the New Orleans NABC last month!
Take a peek at:
http://web2.acbl.org/nabc/NewOrleans03/bulletins/bulletins/firstwed.htm
for a story on a beloved 86 year old caddy, Clinton Aiken. A
nice story, for sure, but what I want to point out is the
unidentified young man in the picture with Mr. Aiken. It is Ken
Brantferger, KEN_B on OKB, and one of my teammates when I travel
to Houston for some bridge.
****************************************************************
Wily Alvin Led USA in Tie by Richard Pavlicek
If you believe this title, you might believe anything; but then,
we all can be gullible at times. Perhaps you can "break the tie"
in this new bidding poll for January, based on six problems from
a past tournament. As a side challenge, you're invited to guess
when and where the tournament was held. Try it! It's fun.
http://www.rpbridge.net/7y65.htm
Results of the December play contest "Our Finest Gifts We Bring"
(ending December 31) will be posted January 3, 2004. For these,
and everything else related to the monthly polls and contests,
go to:
http://www.rpbridge.net/rppc.htm
****************************************************************
From Tuna in the January 2004 Spectator:
Each January there will be a little twist to the Angelfish
award. It will be an opportunity to honor the cherished ones
we have lost during the previous year who are now truly Angels
looking down upon us. If you would like to include someone
for next year's list, please inform me. I will even organize
a memorial tourney for them upon request.
Gone but not forgotten fellow OKb'ers of 2003 are: Curtisxx,
Jane, Marians, Psyche (to be honored more thoroughly next
month), Shl and TTT.
Rest in peace knowing that your many friends miss you.
****************************************************************
FIRESIDE MEMORIAL FUND: Several anonymous donations have been
received in memory of Nina (PSYCHE). I know Nina would be
touched by your rememberances.
****************************************************************
A Happy New Year to all our friends. Make a resolution to send
me your news in 2004! We wish all of you only the best for good
health, happiness and a finesse or two when you need it most.
Big New Year's hug.....Janice
**********************************************************
While we list the lessons offered by the commentators who
write for The Chat, we want to note that our other
commentators also give lessons in most shapes and
sizes....mentoring games, tourney play, partnership coaching,
just about whatever type of lesson you could envision.
Please feel free to contact any of them for lessons:
Colin/Kaltica kaltica@mts.net
Bill/Wintaka btreble@shaw.ca
Lynn/Wishtrik lynn@lynndeas.com
Dann/Pooka pspeard@telusplanet.net
Bob/Bridgboy bridgboy@charter.net
Diane/DianeW diane@walkersweb.org
Bernard/Bluebee Bernardh@btinternet.com
Fred/FredW3 Please msg on OKB
The lessons can be more affordable than you might
think, especially mentoring games. We think our
commentators give you your money's worth when you
choose private lessons, and they really value your
business. Maybe you can hint to a loved one what
you would like for your next birthday!
***********************************************************
We know that it isn't always easy to find a 'friendly' game.
We hope this new site will be a plus in your OKB experience
by helping our friends schedule games with each other.
Visit:
http://www.firesides.net/playdate.htm
and follow the directions to set up a table others can join, or
to join a game someone else has scheduled. You'll receive emails
notifying you as others join the same games.
If you wish to reserve a seat in one of the listed mentoring
games, which are supported by the people attending, we
suggest you do so, and also contact the mentoring commentator
for info.
We have tested this site, but we won't be surprised to hear
of a bug or two. Please let us know at kaltica@mts.net if
you encounter any problems serving, joining, or canceling a
game, or if you have any suggestions.
Have fun!
********************
Have a comment you'd like to make about the FireSide program?
An event or announcement you'd like to share with the rest of
us? A question you'd like answered? Here's a great place for
us to visit every day and keep up with each other:
http://www.firesides.net/chatline.htm
********************
Can't remember if this is a Mentor Cup week or when the next
Fireside session is? Get the complete schedule of events at:
www.firesides.net/whatsup.htm
Bookmark this page, and check back often. You don't want to
miss anything!
For those of you who use a credit card to support Fireside,
it's easy now! Go to:
www.firesides.net/support.htm
*********************
FIRESIDE UTILITY SITES
http://www.firesides.net/checker.htm
http://www.firesides.net/dealhand.htm
********************
And if you haven't had a chance to check them out yet,
here are some links to some of the quizzes that Colin has
developed to enlighten us:
www.firesides.net/staymantest.htm
www.firesides.net/sayctest.htm
www.firesides.net/sarctest.htm
www.firesides.net/spectrumtest.htm
www.firesides.net/bidstest.htm
www.firesides/net/IGITSAP.htm
(Note that IGITSAP must be in CAPS.)
Give them a try! They are fun and instructive.
*****************************************************
December Events: (All times Pacific)
===============================
NOVICE/MENTOR TOURNEY:
Thursday, January 8, 6:00 P.M. and Saturday,
January 17, at 12:00 P.M. A low-key introduction
to the tourney experience, sponsored by Fifth Chair...
see www.fifthchair.org for more info on this and
their other services, including getting a mentor.
FIRESIDE MENTOR CUP TEAM GAME:
Sundays, 5:00 P.M. January 11 and 25.
See www.firesides.net/mtc.htm for info and lists
of past winners. To get on the mailing list for
this game, email me at firesider@aol.com.
OKSCRIPT SEMINAR:
OKScript seminars are held as demand warrants.
Email Kaltica to schedule a session, usually available
on the same Sunday as the Mentor Cup Game, at 2:30 p.m.
OKScript is an add-on program that saves you many
keystrokes while playing on OKB by sending
prepared text to the table, opps, or lobby at the
push of a button. Try to download the program BEFORE
the seminar by going to www.firesides.net/okscript.htm.
For more information, email Colin at kaltica@mts.net.
FIFTH CHAIR INSTRUCTIONAL EVENTS:
=================================
Interested in getting a mentor to play with you periodically
in your learning of this wonderful game? Please contact
tarsh1@mindspring.com and ask for a mentor.
SAYC Novice Team Game:
Saturdays, at 8:00 a.m. PACIFIC. Newcomers very
welcome! In addition to the team game, there will be
an open table for those waiting to join the team game.
This table will also have a commentator.
2/1 Team Game for intermediate players:
Saturdays, 1:30 p.m. Pacific. Novices are welcome in
spectator mode.
Look for the words FIFTH CHAIR beside the server's name,
in the table notes, to attend either of these sessions
You can also go to the Fifth Chair Foundation webpage:
www.fifthchair.org if you have any bidding questions.
After clicking on the webpage, find the Ask Anything section.
Write an email to Lucy, and she will be most happy to answer
your questions.
OKbridge offers us an email discussion opportunity,
the Discuss List. You can join that list by emailing them
at Discuss-Request@okbridge.com and put the word 'subscribe'
in the subject line. You can also participate in the
discussions via the OKbridge web site now, just go to the
members area at www.okbridge.com and you'll find the Discuss
List there at the bottom of your opening page.
********************
Moogal (Janice Kofman) stays busy collecting all sorts
of news about our FireSide family members to share with us.
Please help her out by emailing her any news or stories you
are willing to share with the group.
Janice's email address is moocake@bellsouth.net
=====================================================
GIGGLE BREAK
Thanks to catnap for this giggle:
An older couple is lying in bed one morning, having
just awakened from a good night's sleep. He takes her
hand and she responds, "Don't touch me."
"Why not?" he asks.
She answers back, "Because I'm dead."
The husband says, "What are you talking about? We're
both lying here in bed together and talking to one
another."
She says, "No, I'm definitely dead."
He insists, "You're not dead. What in the world makes
you think you're dead?"
"Because I woke up this morning and NOTHING HURTS.
========================================================
TREBLE'S TABLE TALK
===================
Second Best
Over the many years I've spent playing bridge, one of the
constants is how even seasoned experts can incur a total
disaster in a way that astounds and baffles us. At one point,
I made a decision to keep track of these miscues and what
might have provoked them. I found out over the course of my
studies there were two reasons for the adverse results. In
this article we'll see what they are and look at some examples
of how the tragic spectacles unfolded at the bridge table.
Most aspiring bridge players will strive for the best result
on every hand, certainly a laudable objective. I once caused
a furor among my buddies by suggesting that if a pair got the
best available result on two thirds of the hands and the
SECOND-best result on the remaining hands, they would never
lose an event. I was greeted by shocked expressions and
queries of "How can you be content with second best?" My
friends kind of missed the gist of my reasoning which is that
by all means, you should aim for the best result if in so
doing, you are not jeopardizing a good score. There are many
hands in which the optimum contract isn't reached because one
player made a premature decision or lazy bid when some
delicate probing or a "maxiflex" bid would have led to the
best contract. On the flip side, however, there are many
hands in which trying to "shoot for the stars" does NOT have a
safe haven in case partner fails to come up with the magic
hand. What you end up with instead is a horrible result. To
draw a parallel to Monty Hall's "Let's Make a Deal", if your
consolation prize is a showroom of furniture if you try for
the shiny new automobile, you should certainly go for it. In
bridge, though, if you turn your nose up at the furniture and
go for the Lincoln only to get a billy goat instead, you can
often look pretty silly.
The other primary cause of bridge table fatalities is when a
player evaluates the hand in a certain way in the early stages
of the auction and then changes his mind later on. On certain
occasions there are good reasons for doing so, but more
frequently the "change of mind" is the result of a lingering
guilt of not having described the hand fully on the previous
action and now trying to overcompensate. Here are a couple of
examples of when it's appropriate to rethink and when it's
not.
As South, you hold:
S-- Qx H-- A9xxxx D-- Qx C-- xxx
and hear the following auction:
North South
1S 1NT
2D 2H
2S ?
Your 1NT was non-forcing so partner is showing a real suit
with 2D. I've actually seen responders pass 2S with this
hand, while others have "pushed" for a raise to 3S. In fact,
the principle of reevaluation justifies a raise to game here.
This was kind of a "ho-hum" collection when partner opened the
bidding. When North rebid 2D, the hand improved somewhat, but
there still wasn't much to do except introduce your six-card
suit. When partner continues with 2S, showing 6-4 in the
pointed suits, this hand is a goldmine. You now have an
eight-card fit in spades, three "goodies" in the heart ace and
the queens in partner's suits, and even the ruffing value in
diamonds can be useful of the opponents don't get off to a
trump lead. South's hand has grown up so much on the bidding
that he should confidently raise to game. Give opener a
normal hand like:
S-- AJ10xxx H-- x D-- AKxx C-- xx
and the only way you'll reach game is if you bid it,
as he likely will pass even if you raise to 3S.
That's the kind of hand where reevaluation is justified.
Now we'll look at the following hand where South was vulnerable
against not:
S-- xx H-- AQxx D-- Jxx C-- K109x
as the fireworks commence:
North East South West
1C 1S dbl rdbl*
2H pass pass 2S
pass pass 3H 3S
pass pass 4H dbl
pass pass pass
West's redouble showed the Ace or King of spades.
The decision to press on to 4H was not a success
opposite the North hand of:
S-- Ax H-- Jxxx D-- Axx C-- Axxx
So why did South pass 2H and then compete, not just to 3H, but
all the way to 4H later on in the auction? Here it was not a
case of the subsequent bidding improving responder's hand. In
fact, South MIGHT have chosen to raise to 3H immediately,
based on the double fit. It's a borderline decision one way
or the other. I WOULD raise, whereas Colin "Kaltica" Ward is
most likely a passer. The point is, however, that none of the
later bidding offered any reason for South to deviate from his
original decision to settle for a partscore. Competing to 3H
was a normal matchpoints decision, but to go on to 4H,
especially at adverse colours, was just off the wall. It was,
in essence, an outright admission that responder should have
freely raised to 3H earlier. If he had done that, then any
further decisions would have been in opener's hands. You
cannot, however, engage in a game of Russian Roulette later
on in the auction merely because of vague sense of guilt at
one of your earlier decisions. You just have to rely on your
original assessment being correct and live with it.
Here is another instance of the "guilt" syndrome leading to a
poor result:
Matchpoints, vul against not, in the West chair you get dealt
a hand that Janice "Moogal" Kofman would be proud of:
S-- Jxxx H-- x D-- 10xx C-- 109xxx
Okay, so the Jack of spades and 10 of clubs prevents it
from being a true "Moogal". At any rate, the auction goes:
North East South West
1D 1NT* 2H pass*
pass 2S 3H 3S
pass 4S 5D ?
Some explanation is in order here. The 1NT overcall by
partner is artificial, showing 16+ HCP and any six-card or longer
suit, kind of like the old-fashioned strong jump overcall. Your
pass of 2H showed 0-5 HCP. Given that, when partner competes to
2S he would normally have a very good hand of 18 or more points.
So now the decision arises as to what to do when your RHO bids
5D. Since partner has shown a great hand, it would definitely be
a forcing pass situation, but should advancer pass and respect
overcaller's vote, or press on to 5S?
Our West DID go on to 5S, and partner had:
S-- KQ10xxx H-- AKx D-- A C-- QJx
Nothing makes at the five-level, so E-W traded a very
good matchpoints score defending 5D for a near-bottom.
The same principle is at work here as on the previous hand.
Despite the meager high card values, I would not have faulted
a jump to 4S on West's second turn. With the singleton heart
and a fourth trump, E-W have a guaranteed ten-card fit,
so raising to game would be justified if you are a Law Of
Total Tricks (LOTT) proponent. Here again, if West HAD bid 4S
immediately, then he can pass 5D. To continue on to 5S
without letting partner have a voice in the decision is again,
essentially an admission that the earlier 3S was an underbid.
Even if that is the case, it's something advancer has to live
with and not play a guessing game at the five-level. East's
acceptance of 4S could be on just about any good hand, so no
additional information exists on which a reevaluation might be
justified. You showed a poor hand and then raised spades, so
the ball is in partner's court from here on in.
Yesterday afternoon my partner and I were playing on OKB
and had this hand:
East: S-- xxx H-- AKJ9x D-- AJx C-- xx
A pretty decent hand for East, who reaches the crossroads
of the auction on partner's rebid:
West East
1C 1H
3C ?
Partner is showing 16-18 points and 6+ good clubs, so where
does responder go from here? If opener has the right hand, a
slam could definitely be on. So do we just take a stab at
the final contract, or is there a better option available:
There is, namely in the form of a "maxiflex" 3D. You have
three objectives on this hand. One is to keep 3NT in the
picture when it's right. Another is to see if partner has
three- card heart support. And finally, there is a possible
slam in the offing. The usual downside to bidding a suit that
you do not have length in is minimal here, since opener is
showing a one-suited hand with the 3C rebid and is unlikely to
raise. If partner supports hearts, you can settle in that
suit. If he bids 3NT you can pass, invite with 4NT or support
clubs, depending on your preference. If partner bids 3S, some
people would argue that could be bid on Qx or Jxx, a last-gasp
try for 3NT. However, we are playing bridge here, not eeny-
meeny-miney-moe. No, 3S by opener would be a cuebid of the
Ace, and responder should now commit to slam, probably in
clubs. If partner has heart support, he will correct back to
your suit. The theme here is that you CAN try for the best
possible result because the fallback position is still going
to be a makeable contract.
Contrast that hand with this one from a knockout teams
event at the New Orleans ACBL Fall Nationals:
As West, vul against not, you hold:
S-- x H-- AK10xxxx D-- Kx C-- AKx
West North East South
1H pass 2H* 4C*
4NT pass 5H 5S
6C 6S pass pass
7H pass pass 7S
?
By way of explanation, partner's 2H shows 8-10 or four trumps
and 5-7 points. Your RHO's 4C was leaping Michaels, showing
clubs and spades. When you bid 6C, that was asking for third-
round control in the suit, as you could have bid 5NT to ask
for specific kings. East's pass confirmed some interest in
going on to 7H, and when you did so, RHO took the 7S
sacrifice.
Since 7NT was our only remaining contract if we didn't
double 7S, West now made a forcing pass to invite partner to
go on. It was barely possible for partner to have two aces
and a minor suit Queen that would allow 7NT to have a play.
Unfortunately, the pass gave responder a problem with:
S-- Ax H-- Jxx D-- A109xxx C-- xx
East felt his long diamond suit would be the necessary values
for 7NT to make, and the result was -800 in 7NT doubled. LHO
had the Qxx of hearts so 7H wasn't making, either. The irony
of the hand was that E-W at the other table stopped in 4H, so
7S doubled would have been a huge gain instead of a disastrous
loss. Opener was hoping for the magic hand when he made the
forcing pass of 7S. Now you can argue whether responder
should have doubled or bid 7NT, but East thought he had an
undisclosed value in the form of a decent, long suit and thus
made the losing choice. Both partners, but especially West,
ignored the basic tenet I laid out at the start of the
article, namely that going for all the marbles is justified
only if the downside is not too steep. In the movie Tin Cup,
Romeo the caddy admonishes Roy McAvoy, played by Kevin
Costner, "Sometimes, boss, you don't have to pull out the big
dog (the driver) when par is good enough". And sometimes the
second best result turns out to be enough to come out on top.
********************
You can write to Wintaka (Bill Treble) at: bbtreble@mts.net
You will find Bill doing his FireSide sessions on Tuesdays
at 5:30 P.M. OKbridge time.
Wintaka and Kaltica present classes on:
SAYC (Rainbow Series)
2/1 (Spectrum series)
Precision (Prism Series)
and other selected bridge topics (Kaleidoscope series).
They also offer private/group lessons and/or supervised play
sessions. Email Bill (bbtreble@mts.net) or Colin
(kaltica@mts.net) for more information.
================================================
GIGGLE BREAK
Thanks to DelB for this one:
To be read in your best Shakespearean manner:
The Cat's Soliloquy
To go outside, and there perchance to stay
Or to remain within, that is the question:
Whether 'tis better for a cat to suffer
The cuffs and buffets of inclement weather
That Nature rains on those who roam abroad,
Or take a nap upon a scrap of carpet,
And so by dozing melt the solid hours
That clog the clock's bright gears with sullen time
And stall the dinner bell. To sit, to stare
Outdoors, and by a stare to seem to state
A wish to venture forth without delay,
Then when the portal's opened up, to stand
As if transfixed by doubt. To prowl; to sleep;
To choose not knowing when we may once more
Our re-admittance gain: aye, there's the hairball;
For if a paw were shaped to turn a knob,
Or work a lock or slip a window-catch,
And going out and coming in were made
As simple as the breaking of a bowl,
What cat would bear the household's petty plagues,
The cook's well-practiced kicks, the butler's broom,
The infant's careless pokes, the tickled ears,
The trampled tail, and all the daily shocks
That fur is heir to, when, of his own free will,
He might his exodus or entrance make
With a mere mitten? Who would spaniels fear,
Or strays trespassing from a neighbor's yard,
But that the dread of our unheeded cries
And scratches at a barricaded door
No claw can open up, dispels our nerve
And makes us rather bear our humans' faults
Than run away to unguessed miseries?
Thus caution doth make house cats of us all;
And thus the bristling hair of resolution
Is softened up with the pale brush of thought,
And since our choices hinge on weighty things,
We pause upon the threshold of decision.
--Shakespaw
===================================================
AND FINALLY KALTICA
===================
Asking Bids
***********
What is an Asking Bid? Stayman asks for a 4-card
major from 1NT Opener. Is it an Asking Bid? How about
Blackwood? It asks Partner for Aces. Is it an Asking
Bid?
No. An Asking Bid is an inquiry about one particular
suit. Typically, it is a bid of either that suit or, in
some cases, No Trump. Of the SAYC conventions that we are
aware, which is a true Asking Bid?
Before we get to the answer to that question, let
us define what Stayman and Blackwood are. They are relays.
A relay is usually an inquiry that involves two or more suits.
For example, Blackwood asks for Aces in ALL the suits.
Similarly, Roman Key Card Blackwood asks for Key Cards
(Aces and/or the King of trumps) in all four suits.
Meanwhile, Stayman asks about the majors (i.e. two suits:
Hearts and Spades). Relays are often made in a sequential
chain, as with Relay Gerber:
1NT 4C = "Aces"?
4H 4S = "Kings?" if playing Relay Gerber.
Where do transfers and puppets fit into this scheme
of nomenclature? A transfer is not primarily a request
for information from Partner. Rather, it is a strong
suggestion that Partner rebid the next step or suit.
"Step or suit?" Aren't those the same thing? No.
After 1NT:2S, for example, the SAYC notes insist that
1NT Opener rebid the next SUIT, Clubs, via 1NT:2S:3C.
But this is not how Jacoby Transfers were meant to be
played! In the original method, Opener was supposed
to rebid 2NT (i.e. the next STEP) if Opener's Diamonds
were superior to hir Clubs and to bid 3 Clubs (i.e. the
next SUIT) only if this were not the case. Partner will
usually comply with a transfer UNLESS maximal with a
great KNOWN fit (e.g. the superacceptance of: 1NT:2H:3S).
A "puppet" is like a transfer but is more forceful
in insisting that Partner rebid the cheapest step. To
illustrate, a Lebensohl 2NT after 1NT-2H forces Opener
to rebid 3C. Does Partner ALWAYS HAVE to rebid that
next step? Not quite. In the case of Ingberman, a
reversing Opener MIGHT ignore the puppet request and
bid HIGHER than 3C after, say, 1D:1S:2H:2NT (Ingberman)
if Opener is extremely strong.
A transferer typically reveals length in either
the next higher SUIT (e.g. 1NT:2D:2H) or the next higher
RANK (e.g. 1NT:2S shows a long MINOR). A "puppeteer" is
rarely disclosing anything about their hand YET. The
irony here is that a "Puppet Stayman" 2C response is,
technically, a RELAY and NOT a "puppet", since it asks
for a 5-card major. In essence, Puppet Stayman is the
same as regular Stayman except that it asks for a FIVE
card major.
When do Asking Bids come up? How would we
recognize them if we were to play them? Asking Bids
come up where standard players would normally cuebid.
That is, any new suit after we've settled on trumps
OR, for some partnerships, many UNNECESSARY JUMPS (if
not a splinter) would be an Asking Bid.
i) 1S 3S = Limit raise, agreeing Spades.
4D = Asking Bid *if you play them*.
ii) 1S 2C
2H 4D = Asking Bid *for some pairs*.
It follows naturally that pairs will choose to
play EITHER Asking Bids OR cuebids.
But aren't these Asking Bids just a new-fangled
gadget used only by expert pairs like Rodwell and
Meckstroth? New-fangled, no. Indeed, Culbertson and
Goren both advocated their use in their original
systems! As such, it would not be a stretch to say
that Asking Bids actually PRE-DATE cuebids! Are they
complex? No more so than cuebids from the Asker's
point of view, no more so than Blackwood from the
replying partner's viewpoint.
So what are the responses to an Asking Bid?
These varied from pair to pair, but a typical reply
structure might be:
1st Step = No 1st, 2nd or 3rd round control.
2nd Step = 3rd round control: Queen or xx.
3rd Step = 2nd round control: King or x.
4th Step = 1st round control: Ace or void.
5th Step = KQ.
6th Step = AQ.
7th Step = AK.
One common variation on these responses is to drop
the 2nd step:
1st Step = No 1st or 2nd round control.
2nd Step = 2nd round control: King or x.
3rd Step = 1st round control: Ace or void.
4th Step = KQ.
5th Step = AQ.
6th Step = AK.
In this alternate method, the Asker can still find
out about third round control by repeating the suit.
iii) 1S 3S = Limit raise, agreeing Spades.
4H 4S = No 1st or 2nd round Heart control.
5H ?? - 5S = No 3rd round Heart control.
5NT = H-xx.
6C = Queen of Hearts.
At a glance we can see how accurate these are.
This is especially true in the way it uncovers THIRD
round control of a suit, which is very difficult with
(especially North American) cuebidding methods.
The drawback of Asking Bids, aside from their slightly
more complex nature, is that they consume more space than
cuebids--a serious drawback since it often gets the pair
past 4NT, preventing the use of Blackwood. The advantage
of Asking Bids comes not only in their pinpoint accuracy
but in not revealing BOTH hand's values to the defenders
(as a cuebidding chain does). Some pairs use them only
by 2C Opener, where the forcing partner needs to find only
one or two key values in Responder's hand.
We return to the question: "Of the SAYC conventions
that we are aware, which is a true Asking Bid?"
Trump requests, including the Grand Slam Force, are
true Asking Bids, since they refer to ONE (i.e. the trump)
suit. Note that these will typically be either a bid of
the troubling suit (i.e. trumps, in this case) itself or
a No Trump call. To wit:
iv) 1S 5NT = GSF. Asks for 2 top TRUMP honours.
v) LHO Pard RHO You
1S (2D) 3D = Cuebid.
(4D) Pass (P) 5S = Asks for 2 top trumps.
Think of Asking Bids the next time you find yourself
saying "Gee, Pard, I'd have bid higher had I known you
had the Queen of my suit!" :)
**********************
You'll find Kaltica (Colin Ward) doing his FireSide
sessions on Friday evenings at 5:30 P.M. OKbridge time.
Kaltica and Wintaka present classes on:
SAYC (Rainbow Series)
2/1 (Spectrum series)
Precision (Prism Series),
and other selected bridge topics (Kaleidoscope series).
They also offer private/group lessons and/or supervised
play sessions. Email Colin (kaltica@mts.net) or
Bill (bbtreble@mts.net) for more information.
=====================================================
GIGGLE BREAK
Thanks to Tara for this giggle:
A distraught patient phoned her doctor's office. Was it true,
the woman wanted to know, that the medication the doctor had
prescribed was to be taken daily for the rest of her life? She
was told that it was. There was a moment of silence before the
woman cautiously asked, "I'm wondering, then, just how serious
my condition is. This prescription is marked 'NO REFILLS.'"
=============================================================
Fireside Chat Issues
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