FIRESIDE CHAT JANUARY 2002
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Welcome and Announcements
Believer's FireSide Kindling
Bidding with Bridgboy
Pomo's Pointers
This is Your Captain Speaking
Dealing With Dann
Moogal's FireSide Log
Special Treats
Treble's Table Talk
And Finally Kaltica
.....................................................
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Hi all!
Welcome to the January, 2002 issue of FireSide
Chat, our monthly newsletter written for and about
our FireSide friends and events.
Be sure to check out Moogal's column for information
regarding our next exciting special activity for you
all to have fun with. More information and updates
available at:
http://www.members.home.net/firesiders/gator.htm
We at the FireSides hope that you all had awonderful
holiday season, and will go on to have a great new
year in 2002. We're looking forward to many hours
of fun and learning with all of our friends at the
FireSide sessions.
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@aol.com.
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! :-)
Please remember that the Bridgementor-L mail list
is available for discussions of bridge topics,
and, more importantly, as a forum in which you can
find immediate answers to your bridge questions.
To join, go to www.bridgementor.com and click on the
link for the discussion list.
OKbridge also 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 website 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.
FireSide also provides us with a "hand of the week"
feature. Go to our Hand of the Week site:
http://www.members.home.net/firesiders/fireside.htm
to check out the fun.
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
MONDAY 11:00 A.M. POOKA
MONDAY 5:30 P.M. BRIDGBOY
TUESDAY 11:00 A.M. TBA
TUESDAY 8:00 P.M. CAPTAIN
WEDNESDAY 11:00 A.M. FREDW3
WEDNESDAY 5:30 P.M. LBROWN
THURSDAY 11:00 A.M. POOKA
THURSDAY 5:30 P.M. RAIJA & POMO
FRIDAY 11:00 A.M. BLUEBEE
FRIDAY 5:30 P.M. KALTICA
SATURDAY 11:00 A.M. WINTAKA/CAPTAIN
Commentators may change without notice,
according to their availability.
****************
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
cpw@escape.ca, or LBrown at Finesse@bestweb.net.
Thanks to all of you for supporting the FireSide sessions
in all the many different ways you have of doing so.
...........................................................
All articles herein (c) 2001 by FireSide Chat.
All rights reserved.
...........................................................
BELIEVER'S FIRESIDE KINDLING
============================
Hi everybody! Happy New Year!
It sure has been a crazy couple of weeks around
the Stobbe house. All 4 of our kids were home for
Christmas, two of them brought their 'better halves',
and we even had a very active 6 year old for the
week. This gramma is worn out!
I joke of course, I loved every minute of havin'
them here. I'm not ashamed to say it's nice to
see them go home though. I'm just not used to
having NO quiet time, or down time so to speak -- ok
ok, no OKBRIDGE time! Sure is hard to concentrate
on playing a bridge hand with kid begging for story,
daughter begging for curfew extension, and two kitties
romping around my toes... while the dog whines for
permission to eat them.
The other, much more traumatic event going on in our
lives right now is the cable conversion in our area.
I will have a new email address -- one of these days.
For the time being, anyone who wants to email me may
want to use my backup AOL address: sarastobbe@aol.com
I know I can access that one with or without the cable
working right.
I want to take a minute here to thank all of you for
your friendly cooperation and cheerfulness at the
FireSide sessions when I'm the Table Manager. You make
it a true joy for me to work those sessions. I enjoy
being there with you all so very much, and it's such a
great feeling when you're so nice to me, especially when
you show such understanding when I goof, or get behind.
I want to thank you all for the support and encouragement
I receive from you about this newsletter too. We all put
a lot of time and energy into putting this together for
you, and it feels good when you tell us you enjoyed our
articles, grinned at our giggles, thought 'hmmmm' at our
ideas. Thanks for the many many giggles you share with
us, I just wish we could use them all :-)
Most of all, thanks for supporting the FireSide sessions.
Without your support, your attendance, your kind words and
enthusiasm, FireSide wouldn't/couldn't be.
My wish for the New Year is for FireSide to continue to
be a welcoming, friendly, fun place for us all to gather
together and exchange ideas and learn more ways to enjoy
playing this 'game' of bridge. As long as we're gonna
continue to share this obsession, we may as well have fun
doing it!
********************
You can write to Believer (Sara Stobbe) at:
sarastobbe@aol.com
...........................................................
GIGGLE BREAK
We received this one from several of you -- thanks to
all who sent it!
Oath
--Author Unknown
I'm giving up bridge - tonight's my last night
It's Amen to Stayman, I give up the fight.
The insults and muddles are giving me troubles.
And I can't sleep at night for thinking of doubles.
My cards are all rotten and I have forgotten
Who's played and what's trumps
And what's gone on my right!
So for now its all over - I'm off to the back wood
I'm bidding good-bye to Gerber and Blackwood.
I can't stand the hassle, I can't stand the pain
I'm getting those bad cards again and again.
I'm giving up bridge - tonight's a bad night.
Declarer is horrid and nothing's gone right.
My partner's a dope and I'm losing all hope
And when she says "double," I know we're in trouble.
My points are not high, and I'm wondering why
She kept on bidding right up to the sky.
We're in seven spades and all my hope fades
When surprise, surprise, her high bidding pays
We're winning all tricks the defenders feel sick
And I have to admit my partner's a brick.
But I'm giving up bridge - tonight's my last night.
Farewell to conventions - I give up the fight!
So I leave with few words but some that are true,
Bridge is a game not for me but for you.
So be kind to your partners and don't mind their cheek
For it's only a game - oh! and see you next week.
...........................................................
BIDDING WITH BRIDGBOY
=====================
Minor Suit Bidding
In November, we talked about the recurring problem of
being unable to force when partner opens one of a minor,
and we have full opening values and primary support for
the bid minor. This month we shall suggest some ways
to solve this problem, so that we will be more accurate
in our minor suit bidding. It is imperative to have a
method in place to investigate minor suit contracts, not
only for slam purposes, but also for when 3NT is going
down and five of a minor is cold.
A very popular method is to play inverted minor suit
raises. In this system the auction:
1C-P-2C
or
1D-P-2D
is a one round force showing four or more of the raised
suit, and at least limit raise values or better. This will
allow the partnership to at least mention their fit at a
low level, so both players realize that it is their hand
and that a good fit exists. The auction is forcing to at
least 3 of the agreed minor. Of course, this raise denies
a four card major suit, which we would show first if we had
it. This allows opener to show his stoppers for no-trump
(the most likely game) or to just sign off in 3 of the minor
with nothing to show. Responder can carry on if his hand is
sufficiently strong to do so.
When we use any convention we have to give something up,
and in this case it is the 1D-P-2D raise in the 6-10 point
range. But this is a small sacrifice to make to have better
accuracy in our bidding.
We can now use the jump raise as a preemptive bid, showing
weakness and five or more of the suit with distributional
features.
Another method to consider: playing a jump shift in the
other minor as a strong forcing raise of the first bid
minor. For example, if partner bids 1C, the bid of 2D
by responder is an artificial raise of clubs. It promises
a full opening bid and denies four of either major.
Likewise, partner opens 1D and we bid 3C to show an
artificial raise of diamonds. We are sacrificing the
natural jump shifts, but again the tradeoff is small, and
we do gain much more accuracy in our minor suit auctions.
The message is clear: no matter which you choose, make sure
you have an established method of forcing in the minor
suits, just as you do when partner opens one of a major.
Do not treat the minor suits with such disdain that they are
ignored in your partnership. They do count for score, and
can lead to good results. Avoid having to guess whether 3NT
is the best spot -- guessing is for gamblers, not for bridge
players!
*************************
You can find Bridgboy (Bob Lavin) doing his FireSide
sessions on Monday evenings at 5:30 p.m. OKbridge time.
Anyone interested in one-on-one lessons on any topic of
the game may contact Bob at bridgboy@charter.net
Bob also now offers courses at OKbridge University. Go
to www.okbridge.com, or email him for more information.
...........................................................
GIGGLE BREAK
Thanks to BobW for this giggle:
DEAR ANN LANDERS,
I am a thirty year old male. I have two brothers; one
is employed by a gang, and the other one is in the state
prison serving nine years for aggravated assault and several
armed robberies. I have two sisters; both are hookers, and
my father is living off their earnings. My mother, who is a
bridge player, is pregnant by our next door neighbor, and he
refuses to marry her.
Recently, I met a charming girl whom I hope to marry.
She is a former hooker, single, and the mother of three
children. I don't want to lose her.
My problem is this: Should I tell my girl about my mother
being a bridge player?
.........................................................
GIGGLE BREAK
Thanks to Luc for these :)
Quotes on Marriage
The best way to get most husbands to do something is
to suggest that perhaps they're too old to do it.
-- Ann Bancroft (married to Mel Brooks)
Any husband who says. "My wife and I are completely
equal partners," is talking about either a law firm or
a hand of bridge.
-- Bill Cosby
I think men who have a pierced ear are better prepared for
marriage. They've experienced pain and bought jewelry.
-- Rita Rudner
Keep your eyes wide open before marriage, half shut
afterwards.
--Benjamin Franklin
My wife dresses to kill. She cooks the same way.
-- Henny Youngman
My wife and I were happy for twenty years. Then we met.
--Rodney Dangerfield
A good wife always forgives her husband when she's wrong.
--Milton Berle
I was married by a judge. I should have asked for a jury.
--George Burns
When women are depressed, they either eat or go shopping.
Men invade another country. It's a whole different way of
thinking.
-- Elaine Boosler
Never go to bed mad. Stay up and fight.
-- Phyllis Diller
The secret of a happy marriage remains a secret.
-- Henny Youngman
People are always asking couples whose marriages have
endured at least a quarter of a century for their secret
for success. Actually, it is no secret at all. I am a
forgiving woman. Long ago, I forgave my husband for not
being Paul Newman.
-- Erma Bombeck
I married Miss Right. I just didn't know her first
name was Always.
I haven't spoken to my wife in 18 months - I don't
like to interrupt her.
My girlfriend told me I should be more affectionate.
So I got two girlfriends.
A husband said to his wife, "No, I don't hate your
relatives. In fact, I like your mother-in-law
better than I like mine."
A man said his credit card was stolen but he decided
not to report it because the thief was spending
less than his wife did.
The most effective way to remember your wife's
birthday is to forget it once.
Women will never be equal to men until they can walk
down the street with a bald head and a beer gut, and
still think they are beautiful.
.....................................................
POMO'S POINTERS
===============
GAME TRIES
After an auction that begins with an opening bid of
one of a Major and a single raise to the two level,
we must have a way to discover whether the responding
hand has enough values (6-9) or fitting cards that
will produce game opposite the opener's hand.
Naturally, the opener must have extra strength or
distribution to begin thinking of getting higher
than the two level.
The easiest hands to handle are the ones with 5-3-3-2
distribution and about 17 HCP. Just bid either 2NT,
or three of the Major (many play this as semi-preempt)
to ask responder if he has maximum (8-9) point count
to bid game, and if minimum (6-7) to stop below game
in our agreed Major. This is a fine asking method but
lacks in solving the most frequent problems. When
opener has some short suit(s) and a side four or five
card suit where he needs help in the form of either
high cards or shortness in that side suit to prevent
losers. Either of those types of help will probably
be enough to make game. How do we find out about help
in a specific side suit? Point count is NOT the issue
here - only the amount of help in the side suit.
When opener bids a new suit (only after a Major suit
raise), he is asking about that suit (and trumps, of
course) and no other suits. Opener should never bid
a very strong side suit, since he doesn't need help
there - the weaker the better. Responder should ignore
any honors except Aces in the other side suits. The best
holdings would be - any two honors or shortness such as
a singleton or void. With these type of holdings in
the side suit, game should be a cake walk. The worst
holdings would be three small cards or three headed by
a Jack. With help for opener's hand - jump directly to
game in the Major, and with a poor holding - simply
return to three of our agreed Major. Responder may
bid a new suit (below three of the agreed Major) to
show a hand that is unsure but not a "no".
S AQ973 S K864 After 1S-2S, opener should try with 3C.
H 4 H 8643 Responder has a poor hand, but good fit!
D AK2 D Q864 Jump to 4S even with only 5 HCP.
C Q853 C 7
If you exchange the Hearts and Clubs in responder's
hand, game would be horrible and responder would know
it and simply bid 3S instead of 4S.
You may only use this "game try" after a Major suit
raise to the two level, but the auction could have been:
1C 1S 1H 2H It may also happen after we overcall with
2S ? ? a Major and partner raises to the two level.
The game try bidder is seldom looking for another trump
suit...we have confirmed one Major suit fit already so
might switch to the other Major - but never to a Minor
suit. This method will allow you to bid the fitting
hands to find game contracts with less high card values
but excellent fit.
Fit is everything!
********************
You can find Pomo and Raija doing their FireSide sessions
on Thursday evenings at 5:30 p.m. OKbridge time.
(Except the second Thursday of the month, when the Fifth
Chair's Novice/Mentor Tourney is held.)
You can email Pomo at: reisig@oco.net
..........................................................
GIGGLE BREAK
A big to Tuna for this one:
Rinky Dink
Bill and Dale built a skating rink in the middle
of a pasture. One day a shepherd leading his
flock decided to take a shortcut across the rink.
The sheep, however, were afraid of the ice and
wouldn't cross it. Desperate, the shepherd began
tugging them to the other side.
"Look at that," remarked Bill to Dale.
"That guy is trying to pull the wool over our ice!"
.....................................................
THIS IS YOUR CAPTAIN SPEAKING
=============================
More Squeezes
In November, I talked about how one of the common
ingredients of a squeeze is often just running your
long suit as the last chore in declaring. Let's look
at this hand from a week in early November...
I kibitzed this hand in the IMP contest presently
running. Names have been removed to protect the
guilty and innocent alike:
Let's first assume the contract is 7NT played by East,
with the heart King led... get out a deck of cards before
reading on!
East can reason this hand out as follows:
I have 11 tricks - 3 spades, 1 heart, 3 diamonds, and
4 clubs, but with reasonable splits 13 are there for
the taking.
Captain's advice was to wait and take the long suit
last. I have two long suits, but cannot delay clubs
to the end, as they must be unblocked. So, starting
with the clubs, play goes like this:
1) heart ace..
2) club king
3) diamond ace
4) club ace !! oops! Only 4 club tricks!
5) club Q
6) club Jack... notice south's discomfort! following to
the 3rd club was ok, pitching a heart then a spade...
(the dummy has been pitching diamonds) assume south
now abandons diamonds... keeping spade length parity
with dummy. After 5 tricks, south now holding 4
spades, heart Q, and 3 diamonds!
7) now come 4 rounds of diamonds. South is in his death
throes, hanging on to the heart queen valiantly to the
end. With only 11 tricks to start, East emerges with
13...very satisfying indeed.
IMP-44 North Dlr: West
Board 68 S J Vul: Both
H 75432
West D T East
S KQ94 C T97432 S A72
H JT98 H A
D 8763 South D AKQ2
C K S T8653 C AQJ85
H KQ6
D J954
C 6
Should South abandon spades and keep the diamonds?
A different death awaits. South will run 4 spade tricks
after taking the 4 club tricks. The Agony and the Ecstasy!
What is more agonizing in bridge than getting squeezed in
two suits? Getting squeezed in three suits!
What happened in real life? Contract was 7D, down one.
West North East South
Pass Pass 2C Pass
2D* Pass 3C Pass
3D Pass 4NT Pass
5D* Pass 7D Pass
Pass Pass
2D waiting and game forcing
5D ..1430
********************
You will find Captain (Andy Anderson) doing his
FireSide sessions on Tuesday evenings, at 8:00 P.M.
OKbridge time, and every other Saturday at 11:00 A.M.
Captain is a full time instructor on OKbridge,
offering group or individual lessons for anyone
ranging from novice to advanced players.
Email Andy for more information - andy@imagewireless.ca
............................................................
GIGGLE BREAK
Thanks to Luc for this one:
Newlyweds
A young couple got married and left on their
honeymoon. When they got back, the bride
immediately called her mother.
Her mother asked, "How was the honeymoon?"
"Oh, mama," she replied, "the honeymoon was
wonderful! So romantic..." Suddenly, she burst
out crying. "But mama, as soon as we returned,
Sam started using the most horrible language...
things I had never heard before. I mean, all
these awful 4-letter words! You've got to
come get me and take me home... Please, mama!"
"Sarah, Sarah," her mother said, "calm down!
Tell me, what could be so awful? What 4-letter
words?"
"Please don't make me tell you, mama," wept
the daughter. "I'm so embarrassed. They're
just too awful! Come get me, please!"
"Darling, baby, you must tell me what has you
so upset...Tell your mother these horrible
4-letter words!"
Still sobbing, the bride said, "Oh, mama...words
like DUST, WASH, IRON, COOK...!"
...........................................................
DEALING WITH DANN
=================
Hello, and Happy New Year to all!
For my article this month, I'll look at a hand and explain
what we should think about while going along in the play.
dummy:
S Axxx
H Txx
D JT
C KJxx
our hand:
S QT9
H KJ9xx
D Qxx
C Ax
After a competitive auction we land in 3 Hearts.
RHO passed initially, then after LHO reopened with a
double, bid diamonds.
The play to tricks 1-4:
1 - Diamond to King
2 - Spade back - 9 - Jack - duck
3 - Diamond to Ace
4 - Spade to Ten - King - Ace
Now we must put together what we know with what we need,
and try to figure a lay of the cards that will let us make
this contract.
We know RHO - passed hand - had the AK of Diamonds.
We need 3-2 Hearts and Queen onside; or AQ onside.
We know AQ can't be with RHO due to the pass, so
We need Q in RHO's hand.
This now presents a problem - LHO has Ace of trump,
so he always has an entry for the Spade ruff. We must
rid ourselves of our Spade Queen before we lead trump.
The only place we can pitch a Spade is on the Clubs,
so after winning the Spade Ace at trick 4:
trick 5 - low Club to our Ace.
trick 6 - low Club to Jack.
trick 7 - open our eyes - hope we are still in - cash
Club King, pitching our Spade.
trick 8 - low Heart to 9 - LHO wins Ace.
trick 9 - Diamond exit - ruff on dummy! - to re-finesse
trump Queen.
claim - a hard fought plus 140 - Win 5 IMP's.
Hopefully, this makes sense to all of you. If not, don't
worry -- this is where you are headed. On play, we must
use all information available, combine it with what we
need -- and play accordingly.
Again, Happy 2002 to all!
Happy Bridging -- POOKA
P.S. -- Please note new email address below. Thank you!
********************
You will find Pooka (Dann Kramer) doing his FireSide
sessions on Monday and Thursday mornings, at 11:00 a.m.
OKbridge time.
Dann is available for one-on-one lessons, group mentoring
sessions, and/or tourney play.
For more information, write Dann at: Dann-Kramer@shaw.ca
..........................................................
GIGGLE BREAK
Thanks to Wheels for these:
A Woman's Prayer
Now I lay me Down to sleep.
I pray the Lord
My shape to keep.
Please no wrinkles
Please no bags.
And please lift my butt
Before it sags.
Please no age spots.
Please no gray
And as for my belly,
Please take it away.
Please keep me healthy
Please keep me young,
And thank you Dear Lord For all that you've done.
THE TRUTH IN 13 WORDS....
Inside every older person is a younger person -
wondering what the heck happened.
........................................................
MOOGAL'S FIRESIDE LOG
=====================
GATOR
*****
Those who enjoyed our Fireside Amateur Commentator
Tournament have been asking us what we plan to do in
the first quarter of 2002 to follow up on its success.
Our answer? Why, we'll run a "Gator", of course!
Gators are a very archaic format, hearkening back
to the days of Bridge Whist. Indeed, I doubt that
there has been one in the last 70 years. They dropped
out of sight because they were an owner participation
spectator event; Face-To-Face venues simply couldn't
handle so many spectators. But doesn't that sound
PERFECT for online bridge? :)
Here is how a Gator works:
1. People buy shares in pairs (in our case, 1 Commentator
or guest celebrity and hir favourite student pard).
2. A knockout team event follows, with these owners
making ALL of the decisions for their team.
3. Any team you beat becomes yours, lock, stock and
barrel. That includes its players.
4. The final standings are:
1st Place = The team that wins all of its matches
2nd Place = Whoever lost to the Winner last
3rd Place = Whoever lost to the Winner second last
4th Place = Whoever lost to the Winner third last
5th Place = Whoever lost to the Winner fourth last
So even though your team is eliminated, you
still have a vested interest in helping the team that
eliminated yours. Indeed, you ARE part of that team!
That is all there is to running a normal Gator.
Ours would be revised slightly to ensure at least
50% student player participation.
16 pairs are established. Gators are TEAM
events, but we start with 16 PAIRS. Ours would
comprise one Celebrity and one "Student" (for our
purposes, "Student" means both Lehmans under 55%).
Our supporters are then encouraged to buy shares
(at $50 per share) in the pair of their choice.
The number of shares is unlimited, so each pair
can have any number of owners.
The first job of the owners is to get a second
pair to make up a team. Typically, the owners would
find these extra players within their own ranks.
There is only one restriction: No team can have more
than one "Ringer" (i.e. any player with a Lehman over
57%) in the first round. In this way a Commentator
with Lehmans under 57% becomes a real bargain: the
owners are free to get ANYONE--Zia himself, if he's
willing--to fill out the team!
The team with the most shares sold gets to pick
their opponent. Second highest chooses next, etc.
The teams play 10 boards, have a short break, bring in
replacements (if any), then play another ten boards.
Ties are broken with 2 board playoffs until there is
a winner.
Now the fun begins. The victorious team inherits
the line-up of the vanquished. So the losing team can
DIRECTLY help the cause. In the second and subsequent
rounds the teams can have two Ringers (one at each
table, playing with their student partners) in play.
Again, the owners of the surviving teams make all
personnel decisions.
The winners continue to gobble up their eliminated
opponents (hence the term "Gator"), adding them to the
fold. If we have 16 teams we will have 4 rounds, so
this will take place over a weekend (Saturday for the
first 2 rounds, Sunday for the semi and finals). We
are still settling on a date, but have proposed
February 16'th and 17'th as TENTATIVE dates.
Consider the spectator interest that this will
generate, with the owners cheering on their teams OR
the ones who BEAT their teams. Even in the final,
EIGHT teams will still have a vested interest in the
outcome. For $50, the owners get to play (if they
decide to) or be Non-Playing Captains ("NPCs"). And
we'll be making history: the first Gator of the new
century! :)
We will have prizes for the owners of the winning
teams and a trophy for the first place finishers. Stay
tuned for details as we announce the 16 starting pairs,
the prizes and the final date.
Website for information and updates for the Gator:
http://www.members.home.net/firesiders/gator.htm
=======================================================
Reluctantly, this month we bid(!) a fond farewell to
Shelagh (SHEP) as she leaves FireSide to pursue other
teaching opportunities. FireSide will surely miss her,
and has let her know she is welcome back anytime! May
I keep you on my sub list, Shelagh? :)
For more information on Shelagh's new teaching schedule,
email her at shep@bridgementor.com.
For the next two weeks, Bill (WINTAKA) will host the
Tuesday afternoon session. If you haven't yet had the
chance to attend one of Bill's sessions, stop by on
New Year's Day, after your head clears, for a fun,
informative Fireside session at 11:00 A.M. PST!
Unfortunately for us, after the 8'th, Bill goes back
to his old 9-5 work schedule, so we'll have to settle
for soaking up his wisdom on Saturday afternoons.
We'll let you know who is taking over Tuesdays
permanently very shortly!
==========================================================
What a rush to have your Angelfish nomination win!
The first Angelfish of 2002 is our dear friend, Laurie
....type /stats Bagel27 to see her pretty new pic!! I'm
so tickled for her! In case you miss it in the Spectator,
here is Tuna's article, reprinted with his kind permission:
********************
Over the years I have received many nominations for Laurie
"bagel27" Scheinman of MD USA, so rightfully she's now
being honored as our January Angelfish. Here is the most
recent letter:
Tooona :)
I would like to nominate Laurie (Bagel27) for
the Angelfish award. Laurie is a quiet, behind-
the-scenes type, who strikes a huge impact. She
has sat on the board of Fifth Chair for many years,
helping out whenever required. She manages the
monthly Novice Mentor Tourney with charm and grace,
pairing last minute learning partners with volunteer
mentors. She works tirelessly for the yearly online
College Junior Championships. The learning community
on OKB benefits from her efforts daily!
Laurie and I met on OKb in 1997. At the time, she was
playing with her adoring partner JIMHAL. When Jim fell
ill with cancer, Laurie was there for him every step of
the way, and stayed with him and his wife Mary towards
the end, to assist in his care. Although she had only
met Jim online, she turned out to be an off-line close
friend. One could not ask for a better one, as many will
attest, me included!
She is also the best roommie in the world. She, BCCPAVE,
and I room together for nationals, or 'summer camp" as
we call it. Giggles, late-night talks, and bathroom
schedules, what a hoot!
I can't think of a more deserving person to consider...
kind, giving, smart, funny and loving.
Janice "Moogal" Kofman
=========================================================
OKB Tourney News
Sun Dec 16 11:00 2001
Rank Team Score Boards
1 ecofin/jerry_1 2.91 26
Dale makes another of his numerous appearances in this
section! Congrats to Dale and his partner, Jerry_1!
********************
Tue Dec 18 11:00 2001
Rank Team Score Boards
1 pamela/wintaka 3.20 26
Bill and Pamela, star Rainbow student, won this one by a
*mile*, almost a full IMP. Pam went on to win ANOTHER
tourney that week also! Well done, Billy and Pam!!
********************
Tue Dec 18 18:00 2001
Rank Team Score Boards
1 beckham7/rainbow 73.13 12
Andrew Petrick, playing as rainbow, won the mini tourney
that same day with partner beckham7. Andrew is a good
Winnipeg friend of Bill and Colin, and won the CNTC B
teams this year.
This might be a good place to tell a story from one of
Andrew and Colin's live games:
RHO: 1D
Colin: 2C (on AQxx and out)
Both Opps in unison: DOUBLE!
When the smoke cleared...
Andrew: I hope you got that out of your system.
Colin: That *is* my system! :))
==========================================================
Novice-Mentor Tourney
Congrats to our friend Svet and partner terry1 on
winning the Fifth Chair Novice Mentor Tourney on
Thursday, December 13!
The top finishers:
Rank Team Score
1 Svet/terry1 64.57
2 Patricia/schammy 59.45
3 ellenh/slim 58.77
4 AndyEdw/sue1 57.06
5 LaKooker/marion 56.35
6 Kaltica/Tara 56.02
7 Birdie/lettem 55.70
8 deeb1232/UncleIke 55.56
9 Gerard/TBell 54.10
10 gordon/oliebell 53.79
11 JoePucek/stolli 53.36
12 diane-1/peter_5 53.32
13 curls/whoami 52.54
14 nodd/pascha 51.93
15 Andre55/janete 51.55
16 bs3nt/Pismo 50.78
17 believer/Frodo 50.24
18 andyH/ken_1 50.15
Mentors and novices, join us this month on the 10'th!
Email me at moocake@aol.com or Laurie (BAGEL27) at
bagelbroad@fscv.net 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 evening.:)
=====================================================
MENTOR CUP GAMES
Dec 2:
Team TUNA: Tuna, CDHill, knife and GroovyB
Dec 16 *AND* Dec 30:
Team LBROWN: LBrown, MVaight, Gaus271 and DineenT
A rare consecutive win for Laura and teammies! Well done!
Well done to all of you and to our other top
finishers -- see who they are on our webpage at:
www.escape.ca/~cpw/mtc.htm.
Email me at Moocake@aol.com to get on the reminder
list for these games. All welcome!
=========================================================
Get well wishes to Marlene (NANTICA) who had major
surgery this month. She has been recovering at home,
making progress, and attempting to find comfortable
positions so she can play a little bridge on-line.
Our wishes for a quick recovery Marlene!
=========================================================
Ted (BIRD) sends holiday greetings and a warm farewell
to all his OKB friends, as he has decided to let his
membership lapse. He'll be busy as always with his
hobbies of Ham radio and photography....we'll miss you,
please keep in touch!!
=========================================================
Lyn (LYNKOS) shared this fun live bridge experience with
us!:
********************
To my pds; a warning... :)
Yesterday at a F2F game: as Dealer, non vul vs vul,
I pick up this hand:
S x
H Kxx
D AKQxxxx
C xx
I Think: too strong for 3D preempt
I Wonder: if my hand is this distributional, who has the
majors?
I Reason: probably my vul opponents
I Should: bid 1D (What? that's asking the opps to bid
a major!)
I Remember: Ward Rule #2: "Behave Politely; Bid
Obnoxiously!"
I Bid: 3NT! (Gambling: well, was close...)
I Hear: P-P-P
The Lead: small heart :)
With a Club or Spade lead I was a dead duck;
but I got a heart...OH! What LUCK!
The Dummy:
S xxxx
H AJx :) *I know where Q is... :))
D xx
C Kxxx
The Play: Take the lead with the HK, run diamonds (opps
groaning, pard smiling, with each successive D played),
finesse HJ, play HA for +430!
The Traveler: All others in 4 or 5S by RHO; (somehow 2
went down & 2 made 5)
The Comments:
LHO: "I have 6H's - will always lead one!"
RHO: "How many others bid 3NT?"
Me: "No one. I am crazy."
RHO: "Crazy like a fox, you mean!"
Pd: "I alerted it like you said, but I don't even
remember what it is!" (lol)
I Know: Bad bridge.., but a rush when it works! :)
The Moral:
I am contrite, *but* will NOT repent.
ROFL
Lynkos
PS: Thanks Colin!
============================================================
Ever had one of those days???
Well, Olivia (BAOL) had a doozie:
One recent freezing cold Sunday, she spent the
morning at her church tending to 95 senior citizens
who were evacuated there from their home due to a
water pipe bursting and flooding the transformer.
(Special thanks to WalMart who donated blankets
and pillows for them!)
"Then I was early going to my Hebrew Class and
stopped at the supermarket on the way. There was
an icy patch and I "sat down" unexpectedly. Was
wheeling a cart which helped to break the fall,
and of course I am well padded in that area...so
no injuries there. The most difficult part was
getting back on my feet.
"When I got to Hebrew Class, I locked the car door
and slammed it, only to find my coat was caught in
it, and I had trouble getting the key into the lock
to reopen it.
"All's well that ends well. Have had enough excitement
for one day, so will be extra careful."
Glad you made it out of the day in one piece, Olivia!
Stay safe.:)
===========================================================
Here is a fun Xmas puzzle from our friend Richard
Pavlicek!
********************
'Twas the Mabel Before Christmas
'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, 'cept me and my spouse
And one other couple who came over to play
In a rubber bridge game that had lasted all day.
The night lingered on and the cocktails they came
As my wife was declarer in a contract of game.
Our bidding was awful and very much troubled,
But the ultimate bid was left undoubled.
The opening lead saw my hand hit the table;
My thoughts at the time were, "Come on, Mabel!"
She handled the play with the greatest of ease,
And scored up her contract as swift as a breeze.
The defense, I might add, was top of the line;
Not one trick was dropped, unmistakably, fine!
So here is the deal that made us a winner,
And gave Mabel's eye that perpetual glimmer.
Richard
S A97
H 87
D A6432
West C K52 East
S 86543 S KQJ
H 92 H KJ106
D 95 D QJ87
D QJ107 C 94
Mabel
S 102
H AK543
D K10
C 863
What was the final contract?
Solution:
The puzzle could also be stated, "What is the only game
contract that is makeable against best defense?"
The most obvious candidate is 3NT. There are seven top
tricks, and declarer can establish an eighth by playing on
hearts or diamonds; but there is no way to come to a ninth
trick against proper defense. No matter how well you play,
it can't be made.
What about 4H in the 5-2 trump fit? Nine tricks are easy -
besides the seven top tricks, South can always score two
ruffs in hand. Indeed, after an original spade or heart
lead, South can succeed by ducking a spade and scoring all
three of his small trumps. Alas, this is foiled with a club
or diamond lead; declarer cannot survive the attack on his
entries. Four hearts cannot be made. Try again.
Five clubs? Or five diamonds? Either seems highly improbable
since an additional trick is required. And you're right;
five of a minor is out of the question.
Well, what's left? You guessed it! After a few cocktails,
Mabel was feeling a little tipsy and accidentally opened the
bidding in the wrong suit. The auction went:
Richard Mabel
West North East South
1S
Pass 2D Pass 2H
Pass 4S (all pass)
Yes, the game in spades is the only one that makes - on a
3-2 fit! The opening lead was a trump (best) and Mabel won
the ace in dummy. She cashed the top cards in each side suit
ending in her hand, then ruffed a heart with the 7S, ruffed
a diamond with the 10S, and ruffed a heart with the 9S. The
defense was helpless to stop it.
Now, if you believe this story. . . :)
********************
Thanks, Richard, as always, for letting me grab from your
website (www.rpbridge.net) for our newsletter! Tons of
fun stuff there!
Be sure to check out Richard's January bidding contest at:
www.rpbridge.net/7w65.htm
If you entered the December play contest, check out how
you did after January 3 (www.rpbridge.net/7v64.htm) or
try it for fun after that date and get immediate feedback
on your results (and no fear of anyone seeing your
choices! lol, that's what *I* do!)
===========================================================
Hope you enjoyed the holiday season and that your head
is feeling clear this New Year's morning, as you read
this.:)
With all my best wishes for a happy, healthy and
peaceful 2002...
Hugs...Janice
===========================================================
OKSCRIPT SEMINAR
Always wanted to learn OKScript? Kaltica will be
presenting a seminar on how to use this program on
Saturday, January 5 at 2:00 PM OKB time (after the
early tourney). Look for his table then!
Before arriving download and install the program
by going to :
http://www.escape.ca/~cpw/okscript.htm
If this fails, go directly to Mike Mardesich's
OKScript site at:
http://home1.gte.net/yweare/oks-home.htm
and download the SEMINAR version of OKScript.
Contact Kaltica or Moogal if you are having
trouble downloading or installing the program
before the seminar.
See you then!
=======================================================
MENTORING SESSIONS
Some of our commentators are offering group mentoring
sessions. This is an easy, fun, and very affordable
way to get both bidding and play instruction with your
partner, friends, or as a single participant. Email
the commentator if you want information on joining
one of the established groups with spots available,
or to discuss a session at your convenience.
Kibitzers are welcome at most sessions.
Watch this spot for future sessions from our other
commentators also!
********************
KALTICA
Colin is currently holding sessions on Mondays, Tuesdays,
Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Email him for more information.
You can contact Colin at cpw@escape.ca.
........................................................
LBROWN
New groups starting this month on Mondays, Tuesdays, and
Thursdays at 10:00 A.M. OKb time. See Laura's website:
www.bridgeisfun.com for complete schedule information.
Contact Laura at finesse@bestweb.net for more
information.
........................................................
POOKA
Was anybody's favorite dwarf Bashful? If so...Pooka offers
a "private" group mentoring session, in a hidden table
format, for those who would prefer a closed setting for
their mentoring sessions. Contact Dann at:
dann-kramer@shaw.ca for more information.
=======================================================
FIRESIDE MEMORIAL FUND
The next time you need to make a donation in honor of,
or in memory of, a friend or loved one, consider
Fireside! We'll notify the recipient of your donation
(minus the amount of course) and note your kind thoughts
here, in my column.
Send it to Laura (LBROWN) or Colin (KALTICA) just as with
your regular donations, but be sure to include an email
address for the recipient, and, if the honoree is an OKB
member, their username. Also, please note if you do NOT
want it publicized here. Would appreciate also that you
email me the same info that you put in your note to Colin
or Laura. Honor someone, and help FireSide at the same
time!
========================================================
January Events: (All times Pacific)
NOVICE/MENTOR TOURNEY: Thursday, January 10,
6:00 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.
MENTOR CUP TEAM GAME: Sunday, 5:00 P.M. January 13,
and 27. See www.escape.ca/~cpw/mtc.htm for info and
lists of past winners. To get on the mailing list for
this game, email me at moocake@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.escape.ca/~cpw/okscript.htm.
For more information, email Colin at cpw@escape.ca.
FIFTH CHAIR INSTRUCTIONAL EVENTS:
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 5th CHAIR beside the server's name,
in the table notes, to attend either of these sessions.
********************
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@aol.com
...........................................................
GIGGLE BREAK
A seasonal tidbit from DelB -- thanks, Del!
Although it seems highly improbable that OKBers might ski
rather than play bridge during the holiday vacation time,
here is a brief dictionary to assist those brave souls
who do:
A Skier's Dictionary:
ALP:
One of a number of ski mountains in Europe. Also a shouted
request for assistance made by a European.
AVALANCHE:
One of the few actual perils skiers face that needlessly
frighten timid individuals away from the sport. See also:
Blizzard, First Aid, Fracture, Frostbite, Hypothermia, Lift
Collapse.
BINDINGS:
Automatic mechanisms that protect skiers from serious injury
during a fall by releasing skis from boots, sending the skis
skittering across the slope where they can trip two other
skiers.
BONES:
There are 206 in the human body. No need for dismay,
however; the two bones of the middle ear have never been
broken while skiing.
CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING:
Traditional Scandinavian all-terrain technique. It's good
exercise and doesn't require purchase of costly lift
tickets. It has no crowds or lines. See also Cross-Country
Something-Or-Other.
CROSS-COUNTRY SOMETHING-OR-OTHER:
Touring on skis along trails in scenic wilderness, gliding
through snow-hushed woods far from the hubbub of the ski
slopes, hearing nothing but the whispery hiss of the skis
slipping through snow and the muffled screams of other
skiers dropping into the puffy powder of a deep, wind-
sculpted drift.
EXERCISES:
A few simple warm-ups to make sure you're prepared for the
slopes:
1) Tie a cinder block to each foot and climb a flight of
stairs.
2) Sit on the outside of a fourth-story window ledge with
your skis on and your poles in your lap for at least
30 minutes.
3) Bind your legs together at the ankles, lie flat on the
floor; then, holding a banana in each hand, get to your
feet.
GLOVES:
Designed to be tight around the wrist to restrict
circulation, but not so close fitting as to allow any
manual dexterity; they should also admit moisture from
the outside without permitting any dampness within to
escape.
GRAVITY:
One of four fundamental forces in nature that affect skiers.
The other three are the strong force, which makes bindings
jam; the weak force, which makes ankles give way on turns;
and electromagnetism, which produces dead batteries in
expensive ski-resort parking lots. See Inertia.
INERTIA:
Tendency of a skier's body to resist changes in direction
or speed due to the action of Newton's First Law of Motion.
Goes along with these other physical laws:
1) Two objects of different mass falling side by side will
have the same rate of descent, but the lighter one will
have larger hospital and home care bills.
2) Matter can neither be created nor destroyed, but if it
drops out of a parka pocket, don't expect to encounter it
again in our universe.
3) When an irresistible force meets an immovable object (see
"Tree")
PREJUMP:
Maneuver in which an expert skier makes a controlled jump
just ahead of a bump. Beginners can execute a controlled
pre-fall just before losing their balance and, if they wish,
may precede it with either a pre-scream and a few pre-groans
or simple profanity.
SHIN:
The bruised area on the front of the leg that runs from the
point where the ache from the wrenched knee ends to where
the soreness from the strained ankle begins.
SKI!:
A shout to alert people ahead that a loose ski is coming
down the hill. Another warning skiers should be familiar
with is "Avalanche!" (which tells everyone that a hill is
coming down the hill).
STANCE:
Your knees should be flexed, but shaking slightly; your arms
straight and covered with a good layer of goose flesh; your
hands forward, palms clammy, knuckles white and fingers icy,
your eyes a little crossed and darting in all directions.
Your lips should be quivering, and you should be mumbling,
"Am I nuts or what?"
THOR:
The Scandinavian god of acheth and painth.
TRAVERSE:
To ski across a slope at an angle; one of two quick and
simple methods of reducing speed.
TREE:
The other method.
...........................................................
SPECIAL TREATS
This month, Bob McPhee sends us part two of his story
"What a Gal". What a great story -- Thanks again, Bob!
(Note from Bob McPhee)
"Can't remember if I ever told you, but these hands
'really' happened in regional play. Except that I
never did bid the grand in the first part of the story,
but playing 6, making 7, was worth all the match points
anyway. Kokish wrote it up in the daily -- he loves
those criss cross squeezes!"
What A Gal, Part 2
==================
Well there it is, name on the leader board, does not
happen that often for us. Of course, you may have
guessed that, seeing how we bid that grand.
However, this is not the time to fuss. We need to
keep our perspective, as we are about to play for
the win. Perhaps another team of big boys. We didn't
care, after all, we're still getting pats on the back
from our friends after winning the last round. Who
has time to discuss methods when that time is required
to accept congratulations?
I overhear dear Mrs. Whaley remark that she had been
"thinking of redoubling" 7H. She is worth the price
of admission, that's for sure.
We draw THE LAW and company for the last round. Mrs.
Whaley wants to play the company, as do our partners.
In the end, I convince Mrs. Whaley we should take the
LAW into our own hands.
The kibitzers are gathering as we approach, and a very
attractive lady offers THE LAW her chair, then she
grabs mine! Needless to say, no one offered me a chair,
and finding one is not so easy. I call a caddy to assist.
While waiting, I ask if anyone wants to hear my alligator
joke. No takers except Mrs. Whaley, who has not had the
pleasure. Finally, we are ready for first blood.
THE LAW starts with 1C and I get in with 1S. Mrs. Whaley
is still asking about the alligator joke. When LHO passes,
I see the bright red double card come from partners hand
to the table.
The kibitzers are raising their hands as THE LAW calls the
police. Major setback, I'm sure. When the cops arrive
and explain to Mrs. Whaley that I would be barred for the
balance of the auction, but that "you may bid whatever you
like my dear", if looks could kill that guy was dead and
buried!
After some thought the double card is replaced with 2D.
THE LAW thinks for a bit, then finds his red card.
Great, 2D doubled and we are vulnerable against not.
Mind you, I just happen to have a fabulous hand for
Diamonds, with 3 small trump and a stiff Club. In
the end, we score up 180. Partner, who held 6 to the
Queen, was all smiles and apologized for doubling me.
There were no other smiles at the table, so she was
the only one to see the humor.
Next board we see THE LAW gather in 3NT with an overtrick,
when it might go down on a different lead. Not good for
us, I figure. Again THE LAW plays 3NT, bringing it home
with careful play. Our partners may bid this one, but I'm
not all that confident with 12 opposite 11. Both the next
hands were routine part scores with no obvious swing.
Then, clearly, the hand that changes all good things to
disaster.
I have these cards when Mrs. Whaley opens 1H, and THE LAW
calls 2C:
S 872
H 2
D J643
C AJ875
and they are vul. Lefty calls 2NT, and is rapidly
raised to 3. I want to double in the worst way, but
these guys have played before, and those Diamonds have
me concerned. The K of Hearts is the lead, and dummy
flops down:
S K103
H A4
D Q8
C K109642
Declarer won the Ace, and tried a Club. I popped the
Ace, partner letting go of the 9 of Diamonds. So, I
exit with the Spade Jack in an attempt to get the
entries. Declarer perks right up, winning the King,
to play a Club to the Queen. So far, this defense does
not appear like a winner. Even worse, on the Club Mrs.
Whaley discards the 2 of Diamonds, and the 4 of Hearts!
"Sorry, but it fell out of my hand."
"No problem Ma'am, but just leave it there as a penalty
card," was the pleased reply.
Declarer now cashed the 6 of Hearts, travelled to the
table with the 10 of Spades, grabs the K of Clubs, and
returns to hand to cash the Spade winners. Now a Heart
exit, won by Mrs. Whaley, who takes her 2 Diamonds, and
leads a Heart, having no more Diamonds to play, naturally.
3NT just in. This is not a stellar result, as you can
easily see.
As my partner offers her regrets for the exposed card
I tell her not to worry, since I had also pulled a wrong
card.
"After all if I had played a Diamond like you told me,
we take 4 Diamonds, and a Heart for one down."
"Why didn't you play a Diamond?" she asks. I just
pretend not to hear.
Things are not looking so good as this last hand has
put us behind the 8 ball. I hear some of the kibitzers
chuckle. I just smile along with them, but have hatred
in my heart. We clearly need some action as I pick up
the last hand:
S AQJ10987
H 65
D QJ9
C 9
and it gets better when partner opens 1NT. Pass from
THE LAW, 3S from me. Lefty inquires what that is.
Mrs. Whaley, bless her, replies correctly with, "Don't
you know a slam try when you hear it sonny?", then
shifts the cane menacingly. Pass, and 4C from pard.
Very nice, a cue bid in support. THE LAW passes, and
I invent 4D -- QJ, K, what's the difference? Lefty
passes, and not done yet, 4H from Mrs. Whaley. THE LAW
passed again, and having heard enough I shoot up 6S, in
hope of a play -- after all, I didn't hear them double
my Diamond cue bid.
Queen of Hearts is the lead, and the layout is like so:
S K63
H AK42
D 75
C AK75
S 54 S 2
H QJT8 H 973
D 43 D AKT862
C JT862 Q43
S AQJT987
H 65
D QJ9
C 9
Not quite in the bag mind you. If I manage to make
this one there will be no snickering unless they would
like to suffer the wrath of THE LAW. This is not so
hopeless in fact, and I see a glimmer of hope. 5 rounds
of trumps and things look this way:
S -
H K42
D 5
C AK7
S - S -
H JT8 H 97
D - D AK
C JT86 C Q43
S 87
H 6
D QJ9
C 9
I slid a trump at them, lefty dropped a Club and, well,
THE LAW didn't matter. It was now AK, and trump a Club
to establish the suit, and claim. THE LAW congratulated
me on the play. I smiled at the kibitzers. Not one
smiled back.
Partners came back eagerly to compare scores, as they
had a good set. On that hand were we had a mishap in
3NT, they played 2C doubled just in, and we lost 10.
The board where Mrs. Whaley doubled me and we ended
up in 2D doubled we won 5. The 12 opposite 11 hand
they also made 3NT for a push. Our partners on the
last board defended 4S holding it to 5, and we won 11.
We hung in there to win by 6, wow!
All that remained now was the final results from the
slower teams. With a bit more luck, Mrs. Whaley will
win her gold points and become a Life Master.
I sure hope we win, it will be a first for Mrs. Whaley
in over 36 years. I saw her standing tall, not easy at
5'3". She is accepting congratulations from friends
once more, she loves the limelight.
I overheard her telling someone about our cue bidding to
reach the "laydown" slam, ending with the remark "These
youngsters are so caught up on conventions they had to
ask what 3S was over a strong NT."
As she stared at the leader board intently she was already
telling her admirers that she had probably won the event
in her best "ho hum" voice.
She asked the director what was taking so long. When he
told her they were still waiting for a few results she
said, "Well go hurry them up will ya".
Finally the results were tallied and we managed to hang
in there and win. We thanked each other for the fun
day, and then she asked me about the alligator joke as we
strolled from the photo room.
What a gal!
********************
Helpful Hints to Keep in Mind:
1. When a contract appears comfortable, look to protect
yourself against bad breaks.
2. When a contract looks hopeless, try and find a layout
of cards that will allow you to make it, then go for
it. More down, what's the difference?
3. Be aware of extra chances no matter how small.
4. Keep an eye open for end-plays and elimination's.
5. Take inferences from the bidding, or lack of bidding,
from opponents.
6. Try and keep the danger hand off lead.
7. Keep a close eye on the defenses' cards, and always
COUNT!
********************
In January, it is my plan to have a group lesson on "Play
of the Hand." This will be a limited class size. There
will be 5 classes of 2 hours each. Also included is a
"follow up" done in VIEW GRAPH form, making the following
of the play quite easy, even if you have zero memory for
these things. I have special software for this.
Interested parties should contact me with best day and
time for you to take part. Remember to include your time
zone. I suggest you allow some extra time either way in
order to suit all as best as possible. I will forward
cost and further information on request.
Email me at: bobmcphee@hotmail.com if you are interested
in participating in these sessions.
.........................................................
GIGGLE BREAK
If something seems 'fishy' about this story, just
consider the source.... er, thank you Tuna!
Fish Story
Harry was describing a 30 pound bass he'd caught
recently after fighting it for three hours.
Bill interrupted the story saying, "I saw the picture
you took of that fish. You're lucky if it even weighed
10 pounds."
Harry replied, "Well... a fish can lose an awful
lot of weight during three hours of fighting."
.........................................................
TREBLE'S TABLE TALK
====================
Gleaning Knowledge
25 years ago, I was introduced to the game of bridge,
and was so captivated by it that I embarked on the
tantalizing -- but often futile -- quest of mastering
its secrets. I've tried to explain the allure of it to
friends, parents, and co-workers, but often their
reaction is glazed-over eyes and a query about why I
fritter my time away at this vain pursuit.
For me, the difficulty in achieving perfection is
exactly what draws me back to the game time and again.
There is ALWAYS a lesson to be derived from a session
of bridge, whether it was a triumph, a disaster, or a
mediocre result. There are also so many facets that
make up a successful bridge player that very few people
can blend all of the necessary talents to attain that
level.
I can attribute whatever modest level of expertise that
I may have in large part to things I have learned in
watching other players at the table. Not so much from a
purely technical point of view, but more with respect to
the dynamics of the game. Each has a particular strength
or virtue that I've integrated into my bridge skills.
What follows below is by no means complete, merely a list
of some notable Winnipeg and Canadian bridge personalities,
and what portion of my knowledge I have gleaned from playing
with and against them.
Drew Cannell--
Former OKB player and tournament director "Canooz", he
has represented both Canada and Panama in international
competition.
Confidence. Drew has unlimited confidence, and a
boundless faith in his ability to play the game. Too
much bravado on occasion? Possibly. That said, he
regards himself as a favourite in any event he plays
in, and absolutely cannot be intimidated under any
circumstances.
Nick Gartaganis--
Was the captain of the team that won the Canadian
National Teams Championships that some of you may
have watched on an online vugraph this past August.
Tenacity. NEVER goes through the motions or takes
a board off. Concentrates mightily whether he is
in a quiet partscore, doubled contract or slam.
Always a stickler for detail, in his bidding methods
and also in seizing upon any inference that will enable
him to score the required number of tricks, either on
play or on defense.
Doug Fisher--
His OKB moniker is "theFish" and he's played at numerous
Canadian Team finals, but his greatest love is rubber
bridge, which I more or less abandoned for awhile as I
was tired of detaching cheques from my wallet and signing
them over to him. :}
Seeing the big picture. No one is better than Doug
at shelving the bad feelings about messing up the
previous hand and moving on to what lies ahead with a
clear and focused mind. No matter how vehemently they
may claim to be able to do the same, the vast majority
of other bridge players I've seen have on occasion
had their attention and concentration diverted by
lingering on a previous result. Only Doug is
consistently able to put it totally out of his mind
and forge ahead.
Colin Ward--
Imagination. His natural inquisitiveness and willingness
to go beyond the accepted horizons that constrict most
of us enable Colin to, like a magician, conjure favourable
swings out of thin air. The downside for him is similar to
Drew's boundless confidence in that unchecked imagination
sometimes veers abruptly into the realm of complete and
utter madness, or "BD" (brain damage), as he often terms
it. But his natural instinct to explore and venture along
unfamiliar paths has often been a revelation for me,
expanding the breadth of my knowledge and removing the
shackles of conventional thinking from my wrists.
Tom Butterworth--
Has been on OKB for several years as "TomBut", he was my
regular face-to-face partner from 1989 to 1993, and we've
also been together on several teams since then.
Class. Too often, some of us fall prey to our
adversarial instincts towards the opponents and can, on
occasion, drive players away from the game with that
attitude. Tom is always friendly, unfailingly courteous
to all players at the table, and quick with a compliment
when an opponent makes a successful play where others
might engage in a pouting sulk instead. If everyone
displayed the same table manners as Tom does, new players
would be eager to flock to the game in droves.
Kenny Sired--
Known on OKB as "KSired", he became notorious when
Colin (Kaltica) assured his students that Kenny was even
crazier than he was. He then sent his skeptical followers
over to a table where Kenny was playing, and after watching
five hands they messaged Colin that they would NEVER doubt
him again. The lad must have made quite an impression on
those boards. :}
Simple pleasures. Unlike those of us that constantly
tinker with our bidding system like a voodoo doctor,
Kenny is famous for a natural, seat of your pants style
of bidding. He's also the only player I've seen that has
NEVER shown even a trace of anger at the table (yes, I've
even seen it from Colin and I've had my share of foibles
as well). Kenny can be as animated in post-game discussion
as anyone, but even when he disagrees with a bid, he doesn't
make a big deal of it and does it in such a humorous and
inoffensive way that you can't help rolling on the floor
laughing, even if you were the chief perpetrator.
Dave Sokolow--
A successful businessman, he now plays bridge only
sporadically, and has never ventured onto OKB. He
was one of the dominant players on the Winnipeg scene
until he and his wife moved out to the west coast in
the early '90s to expand their business.
Hand analysis. It's so easy to analyze a hand badly after
the fact. In my formative days, I encountered a player
that would always have a convincing analysis of how the bid
and play should have gone, but as I grew in skill and
experience, I realized that his point of view was often
self-serving and unrealistic. For example, he once went
down two, vulnerable, and assured his partner that any pair
worth their salt in our direction would get to 4H on two
balanced hands and a combined 21-count. In this case it
wasn't really analysis in the least but rather a form
of gamesmanship.
Sometimes there is a lot of posturing or an eagerness to
advance and justify a view that inhibits a useful
discussion of the hand in question. Dave, on the other
hand, was always frank, concise and logical, and rarely
did I look at a hand record afterwards and have any
significant disagreement with what he was saying.
Darren Wolpert/Jurek Cyszowicz--
They were part of the team that claimed the victor's
laurels in the 2000 Canadian Team Finals, and have
also down well in various events at ACBL North American
Bridge Championships (NABC's)..
Great but unsung partnership. There are many topnotch
partnerships, some whose bold and dashing style make folks
sit up and take notice, and still others that are
truly brilliant but whose star is dimmed by arrogance and
sporadically churlish behavior. Not many of them embody
the embody the qualities that would garner both the respect
AND admiration of both their peers and the rank-and-file
bridge player alike. Martel and Stansby in the U.S. are
one that come to mind, and for me Darren and Jurek inspire
the same reaction. They are friendly but quietly intense,
with nary a cross word at the table to either the opponents
or each other, and have impeccable ethics and deportment.
The combination of a great attitude and an ongoing striving
for excellence makes them a wonderful partnership.
Dave McLellan--
From Thunder Bay, he is a frequent partner of mine in
major team events, NABC's and regionals. Dave is not
an OKB member at the present time, although Kaltica,
Wintaka, RBrough and theFish are all constantly badgering
him to get himself a computer and step into the REAL
world. :}
Partner. I recently watched the movie "Hoosiers" and a
scene where Gene Hackman, as a high school basketball
coach, is trying to mold his team into a smoothly running
unit. "Team, team, team," he preaches, "Five players
functioning together, no one more important that the
other." For a bridge partnership to rise to it's
potential, at least three important conditions have to
be met.
First, there must be a healthy mutual respect and each
player must consider the other to be an equal. If one
person considers himself the superior player, he must be
able to show an ability to nurture and support his partner
and freely accept the "growing pains" as the evolution
process continues. Most partnerships of this nature
usually founder because one player starts to show impatience
and frustration and the other gets fed up with the ensuing
browbeating and lectures. A further necessity is that there
must also be a lively communication and exchange of ideas.
A well-known local pair often generates sparkling results
but have communication difficulties on occasion in that one
guy likes to talk a problem or bidding sequence right
through, no matter how long it takes. The other is
reluctant to expand on their system notes and is more terse
and "open-and-shut" in the discussion rather than willing to
hash the entire thing out. Dave and I always express our
opinions and feelings to each other. They're often spewed
out in an overly emphatic manner, but our respect for each
other allows us to deal with the inevitable bumps in the
road and move forward.
Finally, it's a given that no two players are ever
identical in style and bidding theory. That said, they
must be similar enough in these respects that each is
free to play his normal game and not have to alter his
or her fundamental makeup to adjust to partner's tendencies.
With Colin, I have an extremely strong partnership that has
two of the components, mutual respect and the ability to
communicate effectively. We also have a sizable advantage
in using a great bidding system. However, because of
Colin's natural friskiness I have to retreat from my
normal game into a considerably more passive role. While
I'm able to do this for the most part, I find that adapting
myself to an unfamiliar style dulls my instincts and my
"table feel" loses it's sharpness. If Colin doesn't get too
extreme in his bidding, I feel more at ease and comfortable.
However, since his natural game is to force the issue, even
if it involves constantly teetering on the brink of the
precipice, he feels constricted if he is not liberated to
follow HIS instincts.
With Dave, our tempo, intensity, and bidding philosophies
are similar enough that our "natural game" is compatible
enough for us to produce the desired results. With him as
a partner, I've frequently experienced the sensation of the
pistons firing in unison and operating as one unit rather
than as two divergent minds straining to reach a common
goal.
Although I've had many partnerships over the years, rarely
have I experienced the sense of harmony that I have with
Dave, and on some occasions, with Colin as well.
All of those expecting to see the usual collection of
hands are going to have to wait until next month.
However, I do have one that came up during the Las Vegas
Fall Nationals, where I got a chance to use a camouflage
tactic. Sitting East, vul against not, I held:
S AQJx
H KJ109xxx
D 4
C J
I opened 1H, LHO overcalled 2C, partner raised to 2H and
righty now bid 3C. Now, you WANT to be allowed to play 4H
without the opponents taking a 5C sacrifice. How to do
this? One way is to use Colin's "Killdeer Coup", bidding a
mere 3H and hoping the opponents compete further so you can
"limp" into 4H at your next turn. I chose instead to bid
3D as a "help-suit" game try, the intention being to
convince the opponents, who likely have some diamond
strength, that they have enough defense to try and beat 4H.
The auction continued:
East South West North
1H 2C 2H 3C
3D pass 3H 4C
4H dbl pass pass
pass
South had:
S Kx
H Ax
D KQxx
C A10xxx
Since he knew we were retreating back to hearts, he elected
not to double 3D. Now when I competed with 4H over his
partner's 4C, it sounded like a typical matchpoint bid,
hoping to either make or get out for down one, so he brought
the axe down. The result was +790 for us, as partner laid
down:
S 10xxx
H Qxx
D Axx
C 10xx
just enough for me to bring the contract home. If South
had doubled 3D, however, the jig would be up, since if I
now go on to 4H later it would render my "game try" as
rather suspect, and in any case, North has enough
information to go on to 5C with:
S xxx
H x
D Jxxx
C KQxxx.
Anyway, that about does it for this month's ramblings.
A very happy New Year to everyone and we'll renew
acquaintances once again in February.
*************************
You can write to Wintaka (Bill Treble) at:
btreble@escape.ca
You will find Bill doing his FireSide sessions
on Tuesdays at 11:00 A.M. OKbridge time, and on
alternating Saturdays at 11:00 A.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 (btreble@escape.ca) or
Colin (cpw@escape.ca) for more information.
...........................................................
GIGGLE BREAK
Thanks to Moogal for this one:
25 SIGNS THAT YOU ARE GROWN UP...
1. Your potted plants are alive. And you can't smoke any
of them.
2. Having sex in a twin-sized bed is absurd.
3. You keep more food than beer in the fridge.
4. 6:00 AM is when you get up, not when you go to sleep.
5. You hear your favorite song on an elevator.
6. You carry an umbrella cuz you watch the Weather Channel.
7. Your friends marry and divorce instead of hookup and
breakup.
8. You go from 130 days of vacation time to 7.
9. Jeans and a sweater no longer qualify as 'dressed up.'
10. You're the one calling the police because those darn
kids next door don't know how to turn down the stereo.
11. Older relatives feel comfortable telling sex jokes
around you.
12. You don't know what time Taco Bell closes anymore.
13. Your car insurance goes down and your car payments go
up.
14. You feed your dog Science Diet instead of McDonald's.
15. Sleeping on the couch makes your back hurt.
16. You no longer take naps from noon to 6 p.m.
17. Dinner and a movie - The whole date instead of the
beginning of one.
18. Eating a basket of chicken wings at 3 a.m. would
upset, rather than settle, your stomach.
19. You go to the drugstore for Ibuprofen and antacids,
not condoms and pregnancy test kits.
20. A $4.00 bottle of wine is no longer 'pretty good stuff.'
21. You actually eat breakfast foods at breakfast time.
22. "I just can't drink the way I used to," replaces "I'm
never going to drink that much again."
23. Over 90% of the time you spend in front of a computer
is for real work.
24. You don't drink at home to save money before going to
a bar.
25. You read this entire list looking for one sign that
doesn't apply to you!
.........................................................
AND FINALLY KALTICA
===================
On the Level
************
OKBridge's illustrious manager, Tony "Tuna" Reus,
once wrote an interesting description of what distinguishes
a novice, an intermediate and an expert from each other.
His helpful definition focused on card play. Novices
concentrated on the basics: "S2B" (play Small towards
Big), "AOL" (Attack Our Length) and "KWTL" (Keep Winners,
Toss Losers). Finesses were the mainstay of the novice
arsenal. Intermediates were beginning to see the
efficacy of simple squeezes and endplays, while experts
worked at expanding on and mastering such themes.
I agree with Tuna's criteria as far as it goes,
but would hope that we might add *bidding* and *mindset*
into the mix. Before discussing the bidding, we need
to define its three types. For our purposes here, we'll
use these loose definitions:
1) Offensive Bidding = When we have a clear majority
of the HCPs. Typically, our opponents are
silent, pre-empting or intervening at a low
level before retiring from the auction.
Novices tend to count POINTS rather than TRICKS.
Intermediates are learning the basics of hand
evaluation but tend to overlook the importance
of natural bidding and cuebidding in finding
good slams--and avoiding bad ones! Experts
have mastered these tools and can apply a
number of TRICK-COUNTING methods (e.g. the
Magic Minimum, the 4 Point Principle) in
order to find the right level and strain.
2) Competitive Bidding = The HCPs are divided
about equally and both sides are bidding with
the idea of either making or coming close to
making. The maxim "down one is good bridge"
often applies here.
Novices tend to undercompete--especially at MPs.
Intermediates are learning to compete more for
part scores at MPs, less so at IMPs. Experts
understand the subtle differences between the
two scoring methods. Some experts have even
added tools (e.g. defensive and snapdragon
doubles, limit cues, lead directing and fit
showing bids, etc.) to help them address the
problems posed in competitive situations.
Experts also tend to have more confidence in
their ability to defend and therefore tend
to sell out rather than bid one more "for the
road". "Down one is good bridge" is most
applicable when it is THEM going down one. :)
3) Defensive Bidding = The opponents likely have
the majority of HCP strength and have either
opened or, perhaps, are bidding over one of
our pre-emptive opening calls.
Novices tend to be very conservative, applying
the Rule of 2 and 3, bidding only with good
suits. Intermediates understand the value
of "getting in their faces" early but seem to
have difficulty distinguishing hands WITH
defence from those WITHOUT it. They often
pre-empt when they SHOULD be making simple
overcalls. Experts tend to avoid making
"phantom sacrifices" by pre-empting only
when they LACK defensive tricks.
It is in the area of psychological approach to the
game that the distinction between the three skill levels
is most evident.
A novice is concerned with avoiding fundamental
errors. Typically, they will adopt a solipsistic
stance, ignoring partner's signals, problems and subtle
calls, as they focus on their own. In short, the novice
is not trying to do what is right; s/he is trying to
AVOID doing something WRONG. "I ain't trying for a
brilliancy prize," they will explain, "I'm just trying
to avoid a dunce cap here!" :)
Intermediates understand that avoiding errors is
only part of a winning strategy. After all, if *both*
sides play perfectly the result will be determined by
random chance--we might as well be flipping coins! In
order to win, then, we have to find ways to help our
opponents lose. Falsecards, less disciplined pre-empts,
tactical bids, coups (e.g. Cripple Creek, Killdeer or
Kenny) and even psyches may appear in the intermediate's
arsenal. Note: it isn't this "bag of tricks" that the
intermediate uses that identifies their level; it is
*their reason for using them*.
Limiting our own errors and trying to "help" the
opponents miscalculate will allow us to beat any but the
best of opponents. So what is left?
The missing element could be loosely described as
"partnership skills". This goes beyond making partner
comfortable and confident. It involves forming
concrete understandings regarding carding and bidding.
Only time allows us to establish these. This is where
making partner comfortable and confident re-enter the
picture. It is important to KEEP partners long enough
to achieve such understanding. That said, attentive
experts are attuned to the more common problems and can
address them early in the partnership's development.
The expert, then, isn't the one with most of the right
answers. The expert is the one with most of the right
*questions*. To illustrate, only an expert would think
to ask hir regular SARC partner this question:
1H 1S
1NT 3D = Game forcing. 3H or 3S would NOT force.
3H! = Good Diamond support (2=5=3=3) in case
Responder *does* have Diamonds.
4NT by Responder will now be Roman Key Card
Blackwood for most pairs, but what is trump? Diamonds
or Hearts? Responder might have EITHER of these hands:
Responder #1: S- AKxxx H-QJx D-Kx C-KQx
Responder #2: S- AKxxx H-xx D-KQxxx C-A
In *my* mind, 4NT *should* be RKC with *Hearts*
as trumps, since Responder #2 could/should bid 4D
and THEN Blackwood. But does my partner agree with
me? Are we on the same wavelength here? The only way
to find out is to ask! Knowing this helps us understand
how fastidious our partner is in settling minor suits as
trump before leaping off to 4NT.
System development, then, reflects our level
of skill. I have seen many intricate systems designed
by novices. Typically, these are designed by ONE
individual who then sets out to find a partner that
s/he can "plug in" to the system. After reading such
system notes, though, the reader often has to ask:
"Where is the competitive and defensive bidding?"
Systems invented by intermediates tend to pay more
attention to competitive sequences and defensive bidding.
Oddly, they are often LESS intricate than those created
by newcomers to the game. This reflects the intermediate
player's experience that partners rarely remember the
more obscure parts of any new system and the knowledge
that more delicate methods often become unraveled when
the opponents intervene.
Bidding methods used by expert pairs will come in
a wide range of complexity but invariably reflect input
from BOTH partners. Indeed, they tend to measure the
lowest common denominator; that is, the level of
complexity usually reveals the taste of the less "gadget
oriented" partner.
Is it possible to be an expert at one aspect of
the game and a novice at another? Not only is it
possible, it is common! Typically, we will see
rubber bridge players who can play the spots off the
cards but can only bid games and have never developed
partnership skills. Why bother working on building
partnerships when the Chicago rubber bridge player
changes partners after ever four hands? Kibitz a wide
variety of advanced players and you will see some of
them make bidding errors that no Fireside student would
make...well, errors that we would hope no Fireside
student would make TWICE, at least! :)
In conclusion, at the subconscious level, a novice
is self-aware, an intermediate concentrates on the
opponents while an expert is most acutely aware of the
person sitting across the table.
*************************
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 (cpw@escape.ca) or
Bill (btreble@escape.ca) for more information.
..........................................................
GIGGLE BREAK
Thanks to PKV for this one:
A poem for computer users over 40
A computer was something on TV
From a science fiction show of note
A window was something you hated to clean
And ram was the cousin of a goat.
Meg was the name of my girlfriend
And gig was a job for the nights
Now they all mean different things
And that really mega bytes.
An application was for employment
A program was a TV show
A cursor used profanity
A keyboard was a piano.
Memory was something that you lost with age
A CD was a bank account
And if you had a 3-inch floppy
You hoped nobody found out.
Compress was something you did to the garbage
Not something you did to a file
And if you unzipped anything in public
You'd be in jail for a while.
Log on was adding wood to the fire
Hard drive was a long trip on the road
A mouse pad was where a mouse lived
And a backup happened to your commode.
Cut you did with a pocket knife
Paste you did with glue
A web was a spider's home
And a virus was the flu.
I guess I'll stick to my pad and paper
And the memory in my head
I hear nobody's been killed in a computer crash
But when it happens they WISH they were dead.
........................................................