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Fireside Chat
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FIRESIDE CHAT NOVEMBER 2004
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Welcome and Announcements
Believer's FireSide Kindling
Bidding with Bridgboy
Hand of the Month
Bridge For the Club Player
Moogal's FireSide Log
Treble's Table Talk
And Finally Kaltica
=======================================
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Hi all!
Welcome to the November, 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/FIFEE
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 (late) Halloween! Get a look at this neat costume!
As cute as, or cuter than, most of the kids that came to my
door!
http://www.firesides.net/brains.htm#Nurse
Our book winner this month is Kitkat! Congratulations
Ruth :) Hope you enjoy your book, Defense Strategy in Bridge,
by Hy Lavinthal. Thanks so much for supporting our FireSide
Program!
We have several books for you to choose from if you win
next month. Be sure to get those checks in to us, or go
to www.firesides.net/support.htm and use the PayPal link
there.
This month I want to talk about a recent experience I had
with Ebay and PayPal. I'm sharing this with you so you'll
be careful and not fall for a really sneaky trick!
Lately I've been doing some shopping on Ebay, and I always pay
for my Ebay purchases with PayPal, which is very safe and I
love using it.
BUT!! There are some folks out there who evidently watch your
activity at these sites, and they send you emails trying to
trick you into giving them your personal information --
passwords, charge card numbers, bank account numbers, etc.
The emails look JUST LIKE they are really from Ebay or PayPal
-- in fact, I started to respond to the first one I got by
clicking on a link that supposedly took me to PayPal, and
starting to answer the questions. When they asked for my
charge card number again, I woke up :) I figured something
was fishy, so I quickly exited that site and immediately went
to PayPal, read up on "spoof" emails, and changed my password.
I've received several other emails like this one, claiming
there is a security issue at Ebay (or PayPal) and they need me
to go to the site (a link) and verify my information, and if I
don't respond they might cancel my account.
These emails are hoaxes! Don't be fooled by them. Ebay and
Paypal never ask for confidential information via an email. If
they do email you they address you by name, never "dear Ebay
customer" or "dear valued customer" etc. They don't ask you
to click a link to go to their site -- they tell you to always
open a new window and type in the address yourself.
I had another weird experience at AOL recently, too. I got an
email that said "You've got pictures" -- and I know that AOL
has a feature like that so I thought someone really did send
me pictures. I clicked on the link, and it took me to a web
page that asked for my password. Still thinking this was
legitimate, I typed in my password and hit enter. I wound up
at a site with an error message, stating that the site was
busy and I should try later.
I didn't think much more of it, but a few days later I
discovered that my AOL account was randomly emailing spam type
emails to total strangers! I was baffled, and figured I must
have picked up a virus. But my Norton hadn't caught it. I
was getting pretty frustrated, and finally called AOL.
The first tech I talked to agreed that it was a virus and told
me that I needed to install McAfee because they were the only
one that detected viruses in AOL. What do I know... I
installed McAfee and ran it.... or tried to. It was totally
incompatible with my Norton, and nothing would work on my
computer.
I uninstalled McAfee, and called AOL again.... THIS time the
tech told me that someone must have gotten my password and
they were accessing my email account. At first I said -- "no
way!" then I started thinking, and I remembered that "You've
got Mail" email.... sure enuff, I changed my password and
haven't had any problems since.
So please, be careful. Check and double check these things,
and don't fall for these tricks. It's great to be able to
shop on the internet -- but take care not to buy more than you
want to!
********************
You can write to Believer (Sara Stobbe) at:
sarastobbe@aol.com
===============================================
GIGGLE BREAK
Thanks to Pooka for these:
Rodney Dangerfield one-liners
Oct. 5, 2004, Joke of the Day on Dangerfield's Web site:
"I tell ya I get no respect from anyone. I bought a cemetery
plot. The guy said, 'There goes the neighborhood!' "
"When I was born, I was so ugly that the doctor slapped my
mother."
"When I started in show business, I played one club that was
so far out, my act was reviewed in Field and Stream."
"Every time I get in an elevator, the operator says the same
thing to me: 'Basement?' "
"When my parents got divorced, there was a custody fight over
me. ... and no one showed up."
"I never got girls when I was a kid. One girl told me, 'Come
on over, there's nobody home.' I went over. There was nobody
home."
"When I was 3 years old, my parents got a dog. I was jealous
of the dog, so they got rid of me."
"When we got married, the first thing my wife did was put
everything under both names -- hers and her mother's."
"With my wife, I don't get no respect. The other night there
was a knock on the front door. My wife told me to hide in the
closet."
"With my wife, I get no respect. I fell asleep with a
cigarette in my hand. She lit it."
===============================================================
BIDDING WITH BRIDGBOY
=====================
That Crucial Fit
Last month we started discussing the value of fit. We
discovered that it is not how much we have but exactly what we
have that makes all the difference in the world when we are
bidding for partner's benefit. Fit is paramount when we have
to decide on game or slam.
Let us see how this will work. We pick up:
S KTxx
H Axx
D Kx
C AQxx
and hear partner open 1S. We know game is easy and slam
possible depending on that magic fit. So we bid 2NT as our
conventional forcing raise and hear partner bid 3H. That is
the best news we could expect to hear, namely partner has only
one heart so no duplication of values and no losers in the
heart suit. It would have been discouraging if partner had bid
3D, for example, or even 3C, suggesting that our honors are
not pulling their full weight. In those cases, the fit would
be tenuous, but here the fit is excellent and we can keep the
cue bidding moving.
So now it goes (opps silent) 1S:2nt!:3H!:4C:4D:4H:4S, and back
to us. Note that all our slam exploration has begun under
game, so we could stop if we had to without risking our game
contract. Next we can check on the trump suit thru blackwood
and when partner shows the Ace and Queen via key card we know
we have an easy slam. The fit was perfect and we were able to
show the needed outside controls in the other suits.
The auction could have been drastically different depending on
what partner showed us. Fit is always crucial. More examples
to follow in future months!
********************
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
NEW ENGLAND TEMPERATURE CONVERSION CHART
60° F: Southern Californians shiver uncontrollably. People in
New England sunbathe.
50° F: New Yorkers try to turn on the heat. People in New
England plant gardens.
40° F: Italian & English cars won't start. People in New
England drive with the windows down.
32° F: Distilled water freezes. Maine's Moosehead Lake's
water gets thicker.
20° F: Floridians don coats, thermal underwear, gloves, wool
hats. People in New England throw on a flannel shirt.
15° F: New York landlords finally turn up the heat. People in
New England have the last cookout before it gets cold.
0° F: All the people in Miami die. New Englanders close the
windows.
10° below zero: Californians fly away to Mexico. The Girl
Scouts in New England are selling cookies door to door.
25° below zero: Hollywood disintegrates. People in New
England get out their winter coats.
40° below zero: Washington, DC runs out of hot air. People in
New England let the dogs sleep indoors.
100° below zero: Santa Claus abandons the North Pole. New
Englanders get frustrated because they can't start their
"kahs."
460° below zero: All atomic motion stops (absolute zero on the
Kelvin scale). People in New England start saying, "cold 'nuff
for ya?"
500° below zero: Hell freezes over. The Red Sox win the World
Series!
===========================================================
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 2004 Daily Bridge Calendar. For more information
call 1-888-453-1976, or email: calendar@interlog.com.
********************
(Formatter's note: Do you have the Daily Bridge Calendar?
Did you notice our own POOKA [Dann Kramer] analyzed several
hands? This is one of them.)
Vul: both North
Dlr: South S KQT97
H K65
D JT5
C T5
South
S AJ965
H 932
D AK9765
C --
West North East South
1S
2S* 4S 4NT X**
5C P P 5S
P P P P
* Michaels' Cue bid
** Showing defense for some minor
Opening Lead: C2
West's 2S was Michaels Cue Bid showing at least five hearts
and a five-card minor. East's 4NT was asking partner which
minor he held, and South's double showed defense against some
minor, inviting partner to participate.
After a competitive auction we are declaring in 5S. Plan the
play after West leads the C2.
(Hint: Opponents play fourth-best leads.)
********************
S KQT97
H K65
D JT5
C T5
S 32 S 4
H QJT87 H A4
D -- D Q8432
C AQ7632 C KJ984
S AJ865
H 932
D AJ976
C --
Contract: 5S Lead: C2
*******************
The defenders have given us a large clue on how to play this
hand. Once West lead the C2 they told us that they have a
diamond void! We know the C2 cannot be fourth best since in
the auction they were known to hold five cards in one of the
minors as a minimum for their bid. West was trying to get his
partner in to lead a diamond for him to trump. By leading his
lowest possible card he tells partner to switch to the lowest
outside suit.
Armed with that information we need not try to play for the HA
onside. We can take the first round diamond finesse and end up
with twelve winners; five spades in dummy, five diamonds in
hand and two club ruffs in hand. When faced with this exact
problem, Gordon Campbell played as described at the
Commonwealth Nations Championship.
Note: Partners in a similar auction bid on to 6C doubled at
the other table, scoring +1540 and 19 IMPs for their team.
********************
Hand and analysis by Dann Kramer, 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 to BobW for these:
The secret of a good sermon is to have a good beginning and a
good ending; and to have the two as close together as
possible. --George Burns
Santa Claus has the right idea ... Visit people only once a
year. --Victor Borge
What would men be without women? Scarce, sir ... mighty
scarce. --Mark Twain
By all means, marry. If you get a good wife, you'll become
happy; if you get a bad one, you'll become a philosopher. --
Socrates
I was married by a judge. I should have asked for a jury. --
Groucho Marx
My wife has a slight impediment in her speech. Every now and
then she stops to breathe. --Jimmy Durante
The male is a domestic animal which, if treated with firmness
and kindness, can be trained to do most things. --Jilly Cooper
I have never hated a man enough to give his diamonds back. --
Zsa Zsa Gabor
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat. --
Alex Levine
Don't go around saying the world owes you a living. The world
owes you nothing. It was here first. --Mark Twain
Money can't buy you happiness, but it does bring you a more
pleasant form of misery. --Spike Milligan
What's the use of happiness? It can't buy you money. --Henny
Youngman
Until I was thirteen, I thought my name was 'shut up.' --Joe
Namath
Youth would be an ideal state if it came a little later in
life. --Herbert Henry Asquith
I don't feel old. I don't feel anything until noon. Then
it's time for my nap. --Bob Hope
A woman drove me to drink ... and I hadn't even the courtesy
to thank her. --W.C. Fields
It takes only one drink to get me drunk. The trouble is, I
can't remember if it's the thirteenth or the fourteenth. --
George Burns
The cardiologist's diet: If it tastes good ... spit it out.
--Unknown
By the time a man is wise enough to watch his step, he's too
old to go anywhere. --Billy Crystal
============================================================
BRIDGE FOR THE CLUB PLAYER
==========================
TRYING FOR GAME
By Jack Brawner
I am writing this shortly after I read a quote by many-time
World and U.S. champion Bobby Wolff where he says he doesn't
particularly believe in "delicate game tries". ( "One spade -
Two spades. Four spades is a game try. I am trying to make
it.") Indeed, "bash into game, investigate carefully for slam"
is a tried-and-true formula that works, both in team games and
at matchpoints! So as we discuss various "game-tries", keep
that thought in mind. If you think game is a good bet (50% or
better to make it at matchpoints and team games when not
vulnerable; only 35% at team games vulnerable!), then just bid
it. Maybe it is cold. Maybe you will get less-than-perfect
defense. (I know, I know -- YOU always defend perfectly, but
sometimes the opponents don't...) Maybe down one is still a
good score. Fortune favors the bold!
Once in a while, though, you want to be in game only if
partner has "fitting cards". This is where "game-tries" can
come in handy.
The most basic game try is the one jokingly referred to as
"mama-papa". 1S - 2S (6-9 support points) - 3S. 3S says
"partner, are you closer to 6 or 9?" This is simple, but the
bridge scientists will tell you that frequently it is the
LOCATION of the high cards that matters more. Thus began the
saga of the "game try".
New-suit game tries fall into two basic categories: A new suit
is natural and a game try when bidding that suit shows length,
and asks responder to evaluate their hand based on this new
information. A new suit is conventional when you and your
partner agreed that it conveys some sort of other information,
or asks a specific question. These are some popular
conventional game-tries. All must be alerted:
· A short suit game try is the artificial bid of a singleton
to let your partner know that you are interested in game, but
beware of any honors in this suit that are not the Ace!
(AKxxx, x, Axx, KJxx. 1S - 2S - 3H = "Partner, the Ace of
hearts is good, but not the K, Q, or J. Honors in other suits
ARE pulling their weight.")
· The first variation of the help suit game try is where
opener bids a suit he needs help in -- frequently he has three
small cards in the suit -- and responder bids game if he can
cover any of those losers. Opener should have the other suits
well in check to make this try. (AKJxx, xxx, AKxx, x. 1S - 2S
- 3H = "Partner, if you can cover any of my heart losers
either with shortness OR honors, I would like to be in game,
even if you are on a minimum.")
· Another variation of the help suit game try is where opener
bids a new suit where he wants opener to pay particular
attention to honors in that suit, because they will "fit". I
like to think of this as kind of an "Honor hunt". (AKJxx,
KJTx, Ax, xx. 1S - 2S - 3H = "Partner, I would like to be in
game if you are interested, but please discount minor honors
(Queens and Jacks) in clubs and diamonds. Aces, of course, are
always a good thing." Looking at this hand, just the club Ace
and an "ugly" doubleton heart Queen gives 4S a decent chance
to make. But the diamond Queen, club King and Queen, and a
singleton heart -- 10 support points! -- and game is going to
be VERY tough to bring home.) (Another example: AKJxx, AJx,
Qxxx, x. 1S -2S - 3D= "Partner, club honors are not that great
(except the Ace), but diamond honors are.")
· There are various attempts out there to combine these game
tries, such as "two-way" and "random" game tries. (We bridge
players want it ALL, right?) But until you are familiar with
the basics, it is NOT time to try and combine them!
I am not going to recommend one game try over the other right
now. All of them work perfectly when you are dealt the proper
hand! All of them have the weak point of giving away
information to the defenders. I DO recommend that you sit down
with your partner and decide WHICH you are going to play, if
any. And here are some general rules you can use in the
meantime.
· If you haven't discussed it, assume it is a natural suit.
· Re-read the first paragraph -- the one about the "Wolff game
try".
· If you are playing the "hunt for fitting honors" type of
help suit game try, always bid your CHEAPEST suit in which
fitting honors are useful. This gives your partner some good
information (honors other than the Ace in any suit you
bypassed are of doubtful value) and may give him THREE options
of responding. YES = bidding game. NO = signing off in three
of the major. MAYBE = bidding an in-between suit, saying "I am
still interested , but my minor honors are in this suit. Does
that help?" (Ex: 1S - 2S - 3C - 3H ! The 3H bid says "I don't
particularly like your club try, and diamonds wouldn't excite
me either, but I have some heart values.")
· Re-read the first paragraph.
· Once a major suit is agreed-upon, you are NOT on a no-trump
hunt. Period.
· Re-read the first paragraph.
· If opener makes a "new suit game try", and then either goes
to game anyway over an attempted sign-off, or bids again over
an acceptance, that "new suit game try" wasn't a game try at
all, but a cue-bid trying to investigate for slam! This is
referred to as the "advance cue-bid".
· Re-read the first paragraph. (Getting the message here?)
Happy Bidding!
Jack Brawner
********************
Jack welcomes students of all levels for lessons.
Contact him for information at trojanowl@aol.com
============================================================
GIGGLE BREAK
Thanks to Melody for making us think with this one:
People over 30 should be dead.
According to today's regulators and bureaucrats, those of us
who were kids in the 40's, 50's and 60's or even maybe the
early 70's probably shouldn't have survived.
Our baby cribs were covered with bright colored lead-based
paint.
There was nothing to stop us from sticking a fork in an
electrical outlet.
We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors or
cabinets, and when we rode our bikes, we had no helmets. (Not
to mention the risks we took hitchhiking.)
As children, we would ride in cars with no seat belts or air
bags. Riding in the back of a pickup truck on a warm day was
always a special treat.
We drank water from the garden hose and not from a bottle.
Horrors!
We ate cupcakes, bread and butter, and drank soda pop with
sugar in it, but we were never overweight because we were
always outside playing.
We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle,
and no one actually died from this.
We would spend hours building go-carts out of scraps and then
rode down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes.
After running into the bushes a few times, we learned to solve
the problem.
We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long
as we were back when the street lights came on.
No one was able to reach us all day.
No cell phones. Unthinkable!
We did not have Playstations, Nintendo 64, X-Boxes, no video
games at all, no 99 channels on cable, video tape movies,
surround sound, personal cell phones, personal computers, or
Internet chat rooms.
We had friends! We went outside and found them.
We played dodge ball, and sometimes, the ball would really
hurt.
We fell out of trees, got cut and broke bones and teeth, and
there were no lawsuits from these accidents.
They were accidents. No one was to blame but us.
Remember accidents?
We had fights and punched each other and got black and blue
and learned to get over it.
We made up games with sticks and tennis balls and ate worms
and mud pies, and although we were told it would happen, we
did not put out very many eyes, nor did the worms live inside
us forever.
We rode bikes or walked to a friend's home and knocked on the
door, or rang the bell, or just walked in and talked to them.
Little League had tryouts and not everyone made the team.
Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment.
Some students weren't as smart as others, so they failed a
grade and were held back to repeat the same grade.
Horrors! Tests were not adjusted for any reason.
Our actions were our own. Consequences were expected.
The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke a law was
unheard of. The actually sided with the law. Imagine that!
This generation has produced some of the best risk-takers and
problem solvers and inventors, ever.
The past 50 years have been an explosion of innovation and new
ideas.
We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we
learned how to deal with it all. And you're one of them.
===============================================================
MOOGAL'S FIRESIDE LOG
=====================
OKB Tourneys
Well done to all our Fireside friends who excelled in
the tourneys this past month!!
Wed Oct 13 11:00 AM
Rank Team Score
1 fpdoc/POOKA 64.58
Wed Oct 13 01:00 PM
Rank Team Score
1 Kaltica/moogal 2.60
Thu Oct 14 12:30 PM
Rank Team Score
2 fredw3/marycd 2.35
Thu Oct 21 04:00 PM
Rank Team Score
1 Pringle/Unicorn 3.52
Mon Oct 25 05:30 PM
Rank Team Score
1 cod/tuna 67.44
Congrats to Tuna and his Mom :)
B/C tourney stars:
Frank-1, Desiree, Ask1, Potts, JulieBT, Dloye, Believer,
Birdie, Flee, Judydee, Karljk, Riggin, Arrow, Imogene, GroovyB
We encourage you to change your flight to B or C so that you
are competing on an appropriate level -- you can do this on
the OKB website home page. Look for "Change my flight" in the
box where your icon appears. This is OKB's way of letting
everyone have a chance to get some pond points. And, as more
and more of you change your flights, the flighted results will
be more realistic. And, remember, if you do place in the
overalls, you are still eligible for the higher awards!
I know I must have missed a few of your names here. I can't
check every result -- believe it or not I do have a day job
:)) Please email me and let me know about your good results.
We want everyone's name up here in lights!
**********************************************************
NOVICE MENTOR TOURNEY
Well done to all our top finishers:
Thu Oct 14 06:00 PM
Rank Team Score
1 slim/thinman 58.33
2 alan1/maree 56.39
3 randyrud/redlin 53.33
4 sha/wandaw 51.67
5 claudia/kayander 51.67
6 Mini-Nov/peterh/rpoole 51.00
IMPORTANT NOTE: The table for the novice mentor tourney is
now called "MINI-NOV", so look for that on November 11th.
Be sure to show up on the second Thursday each month for your
chance to play in this fun, easy-going session of an OKB mini.
You may be encouraged to try the daily ones!
**********************************************************
FIRESIDE'S MENTOR CUP GAME
Our September winners are:
10-03-2004 Team BOBOWEN Bobowen, Queenhrt, Pringle & Unicorn
10-17-2004 Team BOBOWEN Bobowen, Queenhrt, Pringle & Unicorn
10-17-2004 Team GAIL37 Gail37, Hec1, Claire & AndyH
10-31-2004 Team UNICORN: Unicorn, Pringle, RDM007 and Garbro
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 in huge doses to our friend Olivia
(BAOL) who recently broke her ankle. We're delighted to see
her back online, home once again after spending time in both
the Lehigh Valley Hospital Center in Allentown, Pa. and
Fellowship Manor in Whitehall, Pa., where she received
transitional care.
Olivia send this message to us, via her son:
My mom is very grateful to all her friends and family for all
the cards, calls, visitations and prayers that you all have
provided for her. I also am very thankful for the support that
she has been given by all of you. It's times such as these
when a person's true friends make themselves known to be just
that. You have all done a splendid job
-Kevin
**********************************************************
Oh baby!
Congrats to Wendy (CHILLI) on the birth of her first child, a
beautiful daughter named Rose Molly, who weighted in at 6
pounds 1 oz. Wendy and Mark are dealing with a house that
resembles a railway station, as friends and relatives from far
and wide come to see the new addition to the family.
Wendy asked me to thank everyone for their well wishes before
and after Rose's arrival -- all the kindness of the Firesiders
has meant a lot to her!
And thanks to the friend (who wishes to remain anonymous) who
made a contribution to the Fireside Fund in honor of Rose and
Wendy.
We are all absolutely thrilled for you Wendy -- a delight for
me to print such good news. You can see a picture of Wendy
and Rose at http://www.firesides.net/brains.htm
--------------------
We also send congratulations to Irmgard (ULRIKA) on the birth
of her fourth grandchild, Sebastian Dominik, her daughter's
first child. She had emailed me with congrats on my
granddaughter, and when I responded, asking her how many she
had, there was a delay in the response....and I soon found out
why, she was in-between three and four! She says they are very
happy and thankful, and she wishes a peaceful and safe world
for all these precious babies to live in. We send our love to
you and your family, Irmgard.
**********************************************************
PUPPY HEAVEN
If you have a seen a picture of Lynn (WISHTRIK), you know that
her sweet dog is never far from her side -- and there are now
5 new puppies to love! She tells me "I was up was up all night
long as Multi, the mom, gave birth to 3 girls and 2 boys on
10-27. Stanley is the father of the black pups and Trump-it is
the father of the lone brown pup. They are soooooo cute."
(Check out these cuties at http://www.firesides.net/brains.htm)
**********************************************************
A Firesider sent me this story from a recent tourney. I know I
could relate.
"I was defending a hand when declarer suddenly stopped
playing. Pings were fine. I called the Director who
disconnected the player and put dummy there to finish. A few
minutes later the errant declarer returned to the table, and
admitted he had fallen asleep! It was 2 AM in his world.:) "
OK, now, show of hands, and be honest: How many of us have
fallen asleep sitting at the computer?:)
**********************************************************
As I mentioned last month, my biggest disappointment due to
the hurricanes was the cancellation of Eric's (ETSAND) trip to
Miami where we were going to play in the Boca Regional during
breaks in the conference he was attending. Lucky for me, the
conference was rescheduled and he did arrive finally arrive in
Miami this month. Here's his story of his trip to South
Florida:
"Sad to admit, but some of us that read this newsletter try to
hold down a day job :) Mine presents a predictable routine,
minimal travel and an aggravating early morning committee
meeting once every two months. About twice a year I will leave
town for a short meeting. Recently I have tried to combine
meetings with some bridge. This Spring I merged a trip to
Austin, TX with a couple of sessions at a small sectional.
In September I was invited to go to Miami for a weekend
conference. I mentioned it to Janice (MOOGAL) and she nearly
had a stroke as it was the same weekend as the nearby Boca
Raton regional. We quickly lined up a team for Sunday Swiss
with some OKB friends but of course it sounded too good to be
true and one of the weekly Florida hurricanes blew through,
canceling my conference and the regional. The conference was
rescheduled for October, yet apparently there are no rain
dates for bridge tournaments so that opportunity was lost. I
rescheduled my flight and ended up in Miami Beach. Miami
Beach has experienced a terrific renaissance and the main
thoroughfares are bustling day and night. I do wonder if it is
the only place in the world where there are actually bus stops
for "Hurricane Evacuations." (No kidding!) The big social
event that weekend was a hip-hop award ceremony, so all the
big names were in town. To be honest, I am not familiar with
these big names, but the jewelry and fancy cars made it clear
they were important. Jan failed to come up with invites for
the hip-hop parties (or maybe they started after my bedtime)
so we settled for a pleasant dinner with the other conferees
on Saturday night.
"On Sunday she picked me up and we headed along the interstate
to the Fort Lauderdale Bridge Club. The club is quite
agreeable with plenty of well spaced tables and comfortable
chairs. They managed two 12 table sections for the Sunday
afternoon game preceded by an appetizing brunch. The crowd was
friendly with the manager introducing herself and all those
around. We were quite impressed until we limped into the last
table. North at that table spouted a constant stream of
vindictives, directed both at partner and opponents as well as
an occasional sexist remark. We completed the last round and
found the manager washing dishes. I thanked her for the nice
game, but couldn't stop myself from mentioning the experience
at the last table. Before I even finished explaining what
happened she barreled out of the kitchen brandishing a wet
dishrag and threatened the accused within an inch of his life.
As we waited for the scores several members walked up and
thanked us for bringing the matter to the attention of the
manager. Somehow I got the idea that this was not a first time
event for this fellow. Thirty minutes after notching a
fraction of a black point in my belt, I was at the airport and
headed back to reality, another chapter of F2F bridge closed."
Thanks Eric. It really was a nice opportunity for me to see
what a bridge club is like and I am now the proud owner of .91
black points. That should impress 'em the next time we
play.:)
**********************************************************
A Large Gala Occasion by Richard Pavlicek
In the old days, media interest was piqued when a world
championship came around. It was "one pot, one winner,"
and no one had to ask, "Which event?" Join me in this
flashback and choose your call on six bidding problems.
Perhaps you can guess the time and place from my clues.
http://www.rpbridge.net/8w09.htm
Results of the October play contest "Horrors of the Wax
Museum" (ending Oct. 31) will be posted November 3, 2004
at 21:00 GMT. For these, and everything else related to
the monthly polls and contests, go to:
http://www.rpbridge.net/rppc.htm
Try Richard's quizzes, they are fun....and if you feel
intimidated, try them after they close -- you will get
immediate feedback, and no need to submit your answers.
P.S. When I played at the Fort Lauderdale Bridge Club with
Eric this month, we saw the "Richard Pavlicek Teaching Room".
Sorry to say, he wasn't there that day....I hope I get an
opportunity to play there again when he is.
Bet you'll enjoy this from Richard's web site. As always we
thank him for letting us use his articles.
Almost Bridge -- Do It with Finesse
North on this deal was Juan Morehook, author of the acclaimed
best selling bridge book, Do It with Finesse. He was playing
in a high-stakes bridge game and losing his shirt. It seems
that on every deal he would become dummy and watch his partner
go down. After this deal he had had enough; he threw his
wallet on the table and said, "Here, take it!"
5C by South
N-S Vul S A843
H K
D A765
C QJ54
S 76 S KQJ1095
H Q1098765 H J
D 10 D KQ98
C 1098 C 32
S 2
H A432
D J432
Lead: C 10 C AK76
West North East South
3 H Dbl Pass 4 H
Pass 4 S Pass 5 C
All Pass
The bidding was well judged, except for the fact that 3 H
could be set *four* tricks if South had guessed to pass for
penalty. Only North-South were vulnerable, however, so it
seemed better to proceed toward game -- in fact there could be
a slam in a minor suit, though not in this case with
Morehook's skimpy double.
West led a trump. He had read in Morehook's book, "When in
doubt lead trumps," which for this player would be every time.
South won in hand and tried to take advantage of his ruffing
power: spade to the ace; spade ruff; heart to the king; spade
ruff. Oops! West overruffed and returned his last trump, so
there was no hope after that.
"Sorry," South apologized, "I should have ruffed high."
Everyone at the table was quick to point out that this
wouldn't matter -- South could not succeed that way. "Well,
perhaps I can set up the diamonds then," South persisted.
No, that won't work either. Perhaps *you* can find the
solution. It might help if you understood the principles of
Morehook's book.
Read the Darn Book!
"Once again I refer you to my book," Morehook elaborated.
"Page 317 clearly states that any finesse, no matter how
trivial, should be taken if possible. You missed an
opportunity! Win the club lead in hand and take the spade
finesse -- that's right, the *spade* finesse! Lead the S2 and
cover West's seven with the eight."
"But that can't win!" South argued.
"Yes it does!" Morehook explained. "Your definition of a
winning finesse is not the same as mine. The outcome of the
actual trick is unimportant; it is the intangible prognosis
that matters. I'll bet I've lost more finesses and gained more
tricks than any living player! I often feel guilty about this.
"East can win the spade and return whatever he wants -- let's
say, a heart. Win the H K and ruff a spade low; lead a trump
to dummy and ruff a spade with your last trump. Cash the H A
and ruff a heart to reach dummy. This is the ending:
S A
H --
D A76
C Q
S -- S KQ
H Q109 H --
D 10 D KQ9
C 9 C --
S --
H 4
D J432
C --
"When you draw the last trump with North's queen, East has a
problem discarding. If he throws a diamond, you can establish
a diamond trick while you still have the SA. If East throws a
spade, you will cash the SA and lead a low diamond to endplay
him. Of course, I could see this immediately after the opening
lead. In your case... perhaps a few more weeks."
**********************************************************
Well, next month I should have a few interesting tales from
the Orlando nationals! If you are going, feel free to leave a
message at the Marriott for me (Janice Kofman) if you would
like to meet for dinner, or a, um, decaf, after the evening
session with other Firesiders. No formal plans, but likely a
bunch of us will be gathering between and after sessions. That
is always the high point of any tournament for me! Also, be
sure to check Sara's and my stats that week for the expected
Fireside session cancellations. See you in Orlando:)
Happy Thanksgiving to our U.S. friends.....and as always,
hugs.....
Janice
********************************************************
While we list the lessons offered by the commentators who
write for The Chat, we want to note that some of our other
commentators and newsletter contributors 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
Patricia/Fifee andersonscorner@atlanticbb.net
Nightowl/Jack trojanowl@aol.com
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!
***********************************************************
Rainbow and Spectrum Series Online!
The popular Rainbow (SAYC and play) and Spectrum (2/1-GF)
series have been automated for your convenience. You can take
any of the lessons at your leisure simply by clicking on
either of these links:
http://www.firesides.net/rainbows.htm
http://www.firesides.net/spectrums.htm
Enjoy!
**************************************************************
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 with PAYPAL! 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.
*****************************************************
November Events: (All times Pacific)
===============================
NOVICE/MENTOR TOURNEY:
Thursday, November 11, at 6:00 PM, OKb time. 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. November 14 and 28.
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 Wheels for these:
ONE LINERS!!
The more things change, the more they stay insane.
Remember, the lesser of two evils is still evil.
"One seventh of your life is spent on Monday." --Hank Caruso
"If you ever see me getting beaten by the police, put down the
video camera and come help me." --Bobcat Goldthwait
Why is it that when you talk to God you're praying, but when
he talks to you, you're crazy?
The reason men lie is because women ask so many questions.
I've got a dog that growls, a parrot that swears, a fireplace
that smokes and a cat that stays out all night. Why would I
want a husband?
Hawaii! It's got everything! Sand for the children, sun for
the wife...sharks for the mother-in-law.
Sweets are the destiny that shapes our ends.
Difference between a virus and windows ? Viruses rarely fail!
I went to school to become a wit, only got halfway though.
Crime wouldn't pay if the government ran it.
Nonconformists are all alike.
Error #152 - Windows not found: (C)heer (P)arty (D)ance
In my lifetime, I've learned two great truths. Sometimes love
just isn't enough, and sometimes shipping and handling is too
much.
A politician is a man who will double cross that bridge when
he comes to it.
Please, Lord, let me prove that winning the lottery won't
spoil me.
I had morals once - but I had them removed and I feel much
better!
Anytime four New Yorkers get into a cab together without
arguing, a bank robbery has just taken place.
The Red Cross said they need blood. They can have all of my
husband's.
Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level
then beat you with experience.
Hell hath no fury like the lawyer of a woman scorned.
There is always one more imbecile than you counted on.
Never wrestle with a pig: You both get all dirty, and the pig
likes it.
I'm not cheap, but I am on special this week.
I don't have a big ego. I'm way too cool for that.
For every action there is an equal and opposite government
program.
Thru the years I've noticed that conscience gets a lot of
credit that really belongs to cold feet.
Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it
himself.
The first myth of management is that it exists.
My heart's in the right place. I know, 'cuz I hid it there...
There is a guaranteed way to get what you want: want less.
Stupidity is like nuclear power, it can be used for good or
evil. But you still don't want to get any on you.
Everyone has a photographic memory. Some don't have film.
I almost had a psychic girlfriend but she left me before we
met!
========================================================
TREBLE'S TABLE TALK
===================
The Outer Limits
Let's see, we had the Twilight Zone as the heading for my
article last month. so you had to know what's on the menu this
time around. However, again we'll have bidding decisions that
go far past the realm of the usual situations the we encounter
at the table.
Recapping the "uhold" problem I gave in last month's issue, we
have, vul against not in the South chair:
S-J10xx H-AQJ10x D-xx C-xx
and the bidding goes:
West North East South
3D pass pass ?
The opponents play very light pre-empts, if that influences
your choice in any way. The options are a sober pass, a brazen
reopening double, and an aggressive 3H. I rejected the double
because that was akin to trying to swing for the bleachers and
connect for a home run (Hey, I'm sorry, but the World Series
just began last night). If partner leaves in the double,
that could work out, but may not be so good either. If he
instead removes to 4C, we're pretty much toast, having to pass
since if we now bid 4H that would show a far better hand.
The denouement was rather amusing, as partner bid 3NT over my
3H and yes, he'd leave in a reopening double. The curious
thing was that your RHO had to come up with the unlikely
defense of a heart shift in the early going. North has KQx of
spades opposite your J10xx and that play is necessary so that
declarer lacks the entry to cash the long spade once the Ace
is knocked out.
Our first new business of the month arises from an informal
game of kitchen bridge, where you're dealt these pasteboards
as North, both sides vulnerable:
S-Qxxx H-Qxx D-AQx C-A10x
The auction goes:
West North East South
1H pass 4D* 5D
5H ?
East's 4D with a splinter bid, raising opener's hearts with
shortness in diamonds It's easy to make a "reflex" bid on this
hand, as my partner did. Consider, however, the value of the
hand on defense vs offense. On offense, you have three
excellent cards for a partner who's jumped in with a
vulnerable 5D bid. True, he could be making an advance
sacrifice, but shouldn't be totally off the wall. At any
rate, if partner is within two tricks of his bid, you can
expect to be making 11 or 12 tricks in diamonds. Contrast
this with the defensive outlook. Only the Ace of clubs will
be a certain trick, as declarer could be trumping the first
round of diamonds with partner likely having seven or more of
that suit. Your major suit queens might be tricks, but
nothing is certain with your LHO having promised something in
the way of high card values. In short, you will be lucky to
get two defensive tricks and shouldn't expect more than one at
best from partner, who is advertising offensive values with
the 5D bid.
Let's outline four possible results that illustrate the cost
benefits of doubling vs bidding:
1) 5H doubled down one for +200
2) 6D doubled down one for -200
3) 5H doubled making for -850
4) 6D making for +1370 or +1540, depending on
whether the opponents double
First of all, the probabilities are roughly equal for all of
these results since the hand is clearly a distributional
freak.
Now let's put it in table form:
RESULTS
5H and 6D 5H makes 5H down 1 5H makes
down 1 6D down 1 6D makes 6D makes
YOUR CALL
Dble 5H +200 -850 +200 -850
Bid 6D -200 -200 +1370 +1370
There are four scenarios, both contracts down, both making, 5H
making and 6D down, 6D making and 5H down one. Each of the
columns represents one of those situations. Only in the first
column, where both 5H and 6D are down one, is doubling a
successful enterprise. In the other three, going on to 6D
nets our side a better result than doubling. Ergo. one
inferior result from bidding and three superior results ---
3-1 odds in favour of "taking" the push.
For the record, the actual scenario was the fourth one, with
both 5D and 6H making. Now granted, it requires taking the
effort to map out the probable results and doing the cost-
benefit analysis. In these kinds of ticklish situations,
however, it's necessary to do in order to arrive at the right
conclusion about what to do. Bidding on in an auction like
this is referred to in expert parlance as "taking insurance",
when you aren't quite sure who can make what. That expression
sounds rather haphazard, though, and I prefer the accounting
terminology instead. It really "adds up" to the same
thing...groan. :)
The next offering is a hand that was dealt at a team game a
few nights ago:
S-AQ H-Qx D-Kxx C-J10xxxx
Playing 2/1 game forcing, the auction went:
Partner You
1H 2C
2S 3NT
Partner's 2S showed reversing values, 16 or more points. 3NT,
however, was a shade precipitate. Yes, we belong in game and
have a diamond stopper, but the leap to the notrump game is
more or less an attempt to shut down. 2NT would also have
been forcing in 2/1, and allows partner to further describe
his shape. The direct bash to 3NT cramps bidding room and
suggests to partner that you are not much interested in
hearing more from him. With three working major suit cards,
responder should be more optimistic about the slam chances.
If opener is short in clubs, for example, this hand could be a
real goldmine for major suit play. Let's go back in time and
see what happens with a 2NT followup by responder:
Partner You
1H 2C
2S 2NT
3S 4H
5C ?
Opener now rebids spades, showing at least 6-5 in his suits,
and you preference to 4H, which if anything is a slight
underbid at this point. Either a 4D cuebid or a jump to 5H,
suggesting good major suit holdings but no first round control
in either minor, are good choices as well. At any rate,
partner now cuebids 5C and it's a case of whatever he wants,
you have it. If opener needs major suit fitters, you've got
those, and if it's a diamond control that he requires, you
have that as well. You should now bid 5S over 5C. Why?
You want to be in at least a small slam and that shows first
round spade control and probably second round diamond control.
With the Ace of diamonds, you'd bid 5D instead. Partner's
hand is:
S-K109xx H-AK109xx D-void C-A10
On the first auction, when you jump to 3NT, opener thinks,
"Well, responder will have a double stopper in the unbid suit
most of the time so there probably isn't a slam and hi doesn't
appear too interested in my majors.." And thus, a decent slam
gets played in 3NT.
Finally, a hand from a Canadian National Teams qualifying game
yesterday. You gather up the following treasure trove as
West:
S-J10xx H-x D-Axxxxx C-10x
Just kidding about the glowing description of this hand. But
it actually improves on the bidding, which transpires thusly:
North East South West
1H dbl 2H ?
Now, even though advancer has longer diamonds, it seems
natural to compete in spades, as you expect the doubler to
have at least four of them. However, if partner has a normal
takeout double, the opponents have a 10 or 11 card hard fit
and you will surely be hearing further from them regardless of
what you do. East might have a balanced hand of 18 or 19
points, which he can only show by doubling and then bidding
notrump. The point here is that you might as well bid your
long suit first if you know there will be more bidding, and
that's exactly the case here. If they have the big heart fit,
you'll probably hear 3H (or 4H) from opener, and now you're in
position to bid spades, which figures to work as either a
maker or a cheap sacrifice. If partner has the 18-19
balanced, you'll hear 3NT from him, which should be okay as
you have a six-card suit headed by the Ace that could provide
sufficient tricks.
For the record, partner has:
S-Ax H-Q10xx D-AQxx C- AQx
and 3NT would have been easy to bring home.
So that's it until next month, when we venture into more
uncharted ground and another cheesy title for the article.
********************
You will find Bill doing his FireSide sessions on Tuesdays
at 5:30 P.M. OKbridge time.
Bill is available for private/group lessons and/or
supervised play sessions. Email Bill at (btreble@shaw.ca)
for more information.
================================================
GIGGLE BREAK
Mature Citizen Exercise
This is for older people. Younger people may try it at their
own risk.
This is working well for me. For those of us getting along in
years, here is a little secret for building your arm and
shoulder muscles. You might want to adopt this.
Three days a week - - begin by standing straight, with a 5-
LB. potato sack in each hand. Extend your arms straight out
from your sides and hold them there as long as you can---try
to reach a full minute. ..Relax.
After a few weeks, move up to 10-LB. potato sacks, and then
eventually try to get to where you can lift a 25 pound potato
sack in each hand and hold your arms straight out for more
than a full minute.
After you feel confident at that level, start putting a couple
of potatoes in the bags.
===================================================
AND FINALLY KALTICA
===================
Endplays - Part II
Let us examine the two expressions that we've used
so far: "endplay" and "tenace".
The word "endplay" is something of a misnomer, since
it can happen earlier on in the play. It is first cousin
to another animal, the "avoidance" play:
Pairs Dlr: North
S A93 Vul: N-S
H KJ64
D 987
S KQ C K83 S T872
H Q975 H 32
D J32 D Q6
C T976 S J654 C AQ542
H AT8
D AKT54
C J
West North East South
Pass Pass 1D
Pass 1H Pass 1S
Pass 2NT Pass 3H
Pass 3NT Dbl Pass
Pass Pass
Opening lead: C4
When dummy's C-Jack holds the first trick our task
is to keep West off lead. The idea will be to lead
Diamonds "S2B" (i.e. small towards big) twice, ducking
East's D-Queen if/when we see it. On the second round
of Diamonds, then, we'll be ducking the Diamond to keep
East, the "dangerous opponent" on play.
To effect this we'll need two entries to our hand
and we don't want to expose the Spade suit. Thus, we
finesse the H-Jack. If this loses and a black card
comes back we'll have to double finesse in Diamonds.
This next hand involved intricate play after a wild
auction:
Pairs Dlr: North
S T952 Vul: N-S
H KJT96
D K75
S AKJ87643 C Q S Q
H Q874 H
D D AJT96432
C K S C 8732
H A532
D Q8
C AJT9654
West North East South
Pass 5D 5H?!
Dbl Pass Pass 6C
Dbl 6H Pass Pass
Dbl Pass Pass Pass
Opening lead: SK
The doubles suggest that West has all the trumps.
Upon ruffing the S-King lead we must "AOL"; "Attack
Our Length" in Clubs. We bang down the C-Ace and note
the fall of the King. The Club Jack is ruffed and
overruffed in dummy. When we ruff a Spade back into
our hand and see East show out we have a virtual count
on the hand. This is a great help.
The C-10 is ruffed by no one, confirming our
assumption that LHO has all the trumps. Another Club
is ruffed and overruffed. Eventually West will be out
of trumps and we can exit dummy via a Diamond toward our
D-Qx. RHO must either let us win this and cash our
Clubs or win the D-Ace and be forced to lead into our
D-Queen.
The term "tenace" refers to the position A10.
While most use of the term refers to cards that are
"two apart" (e.g. AQ, KJ, Q10, etc.) it is often used
to refer to any two biggies. Technically, A9 and even
A8 might act as a tenace, but these situations are
comparatively rare, requiring bad breaks in the suit:
LHO
S-KQJ10x
Us
S-A98xx
We'll have to duck a lot of Spades, but eventually
we'll come down to S-10x in LHO's hand an S-A9 in ours;
a tenace position. Similarly:
LHO
C-KQJ109x
Us
C-A87xxx
After more ducks than the average flock we'll
eventually get down to LHO's C-9x and our C-A8; a
tenace position.
Here we see an archetypical "A10" tenace in action:
Pairs Dlr: North
S A987 Vul: Both
H AT974
D Q3
S KQ32 C J6 S T64
H H KQJ2
D AJ754 D T86
C Q953 S J5 C T42
H 8653
D K92
C AK87
West North East South
Pass Pass 1C
1D Dbl 2D Pass
3D 3H Dbl Pass
Pass Pass
Opening lead: D6
Again, the double virtually marks East with H-KQJ2.
So what do we have to do to hold our Heart losers to two?
Why, we have to get East to lead one for us, of course!
But the only way we can do this is to void East in all
the other suits. So we win the Diamond Queen and duck
a Spade. Now we force out the D-Ace and ruff one of those
in our hand. S-Ace, C-AK and cross ruff in the Black suits
ensues. East can ruff in whenever they choose but will
have only trumps to return from H-KQ2. Endplayed!
Why should we learn about endplays? Well, it's
like owning a dog without a "Yuppy Puppy Treat Machine".
Sure, it's a pleasure, but not nearly as much fun as
after we've acquired the thing in question. :)
See you on OKBridge!
Oh, and since I knew you'd be curious:
"Yuppy Puppy Treat Machine"
http://www.antiquegumball.com/pet/puppy.htm
...and, for cat owners:
"Kitty Kitchen Treat Machine"
http://www.antiquegumball.com/pet/kitty.htm
**********************
You'll find Kaltica (Colin Ward) doing his FireSide
sessions on Friday evenings at 5:30 P.M. OKbridge time.
Colin is available for private/group lessons and/or
supervised play sessions. Email him at (kaltica@mts.net)
for more information.
Rainbow and Spectrum Series Online!
The popular Rainbow (SAYC and play) and Spectrum (2/1-GF)
series have been automated for your convenience. You can take
any of the lessons at your leisure simply by clicking on
either of these links:
http://www.firesides.net/rainbows.htm
http://www.firesides.net/spectrums.htm
Enjoy!
=====================================================
GIGGLE BREAK
Thanks to Benson for this giggle:
A man and a woman, who had never met before, found themselves
assigned the same sleeping room on a transcontinental train.
Though initially embarrassed and quite uneasy over sharing a
room, the two were tired and fell asleep quickly, he in the
upper bunk and she in the lower.
At about 2:00 AM, he leaned over and gently woke the woman,
saying, "Ma'am, I'm sorry to bother you, but would you be
willing to reach into the closet to get me a second blanket?
I'm awfully cold."
"I have a better idea," she replied. "Just for tonight, let's
pretend that we're married."
"Wow! That's a great idea!" he exclaimed.
"Good," she replied. "So, get your own darn blanket."
=============================================================
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