Month: July 2012

Hi all

So when we qualified for the second day of the Spingold, we were seed #62. I would have loved to play Monaco, but we got matched up with team Diamond instead (Hampson & Greco, Gitelman & Moss and Diamond & Platnick). Urgh! Some heavyweights.

The first quarter I had some startup problems, defending sub-optimally, choosing to defend with a 7-5 in the Majors, and throwing the towel too early in partscore battles. It all adds up so quickly. After the first 16 boards we’re staring into a 50 IMP abyss. Sigh!

Here’s an impressive sequence to a borderline slam, Hampson and Greco showing off their tools and agreements.

West

North

East

South

 

2NT1

pass

32

pass

3

pass

43

pass

44

Double

pass5

pass

Redouble6

pass

47

pass

4NT8

pass

59

pass

6

a.p.

 

1. 19-21
2. Stayman
3. Natural, slammish
4. Keycards, are trumps
5. “I worry about the position”
6. “Don’t worry, I got it under control. Now show me your keycards!”
7. One keycard
8. Trump Queen?
9. Yes, and the King

This was the full deal:

As you can see 6 needs some work. Trumps splitting or the Jack onside (or stiff). King of onside and 3-3, or a squeeze against length and the Queen. Obviously Greco had no problem squeezing the life out of me. I don’t blame my team mates at all for not finding this slam.

Hi all

The Philadelphia NABC was awesome. I played lots and lots of bridge, I’d say about 50-60 deals per day for nine days straight. I did get to eat a Philly Cheese Steak, saw plenty of bronze statues around the city, the Liberty Bell, City Hall (close to the playing site), and that’s about it tourist wise. I’ve consumed some amazing food, even after being spoiled with all the great restaurants in Berkeley. And the beer… ohh… the beer. Gulden Draak 9000 from draft, I was in heaven.

I don’t have my paperwork in order yet, but I do have lots of nice deals. I had an amazing Nationals, we got to play team Diamond twice(!), more than respectable finishes in the Roth Open Swiss and the Fast Pairs, and I’ve amassed enough Platinum to play the Platinum Pairs next time. Yay! So here’s a random one where I was playing with Michael Bodell in the A/x Pairs Wednesday the 15th.

Michael has an uncanny talent for making exactly the right bid I want to hear.

West

North

East

South

pass

1

pass

11

2

2NT

pass

42

pass

… 5NT3

pass

6

a.p.

 

 

 

1. No need to rush
2. Splinter
3. Pick a slam

My hand certainly is worth a distributional raise to 4, but I decided to take the slow route, visualizing my suit as a potential source of tricks. When Michael showed 18-19 balanced, I decided my hand was worth a slam try. Michael didn’t know what I was splintering for, but his 5NT said: “I don’t know what you’re looking for, but I’ve got it all…” This was the full deal:

When everything broke friendly Michael wrapped up all thirteen of them. A big fit and controls, the two main ingredients for cooking up a slam.

Hi all

In my mind I have prepared for Philly already (I’m flying tomorrow), but reality is less pretty. Instead of a packed bag I have a pile of laundry to sort through. Several Convention Cards but not the right ones. And I’m trying to figure out what to wear when it’s hot & humid outside, and bone-chilling cold in the playing arena. Wonderful!

So besides hosting the Summer NABC this year, I understand Philadelphia is known for steaks on sandwiches, something with independence and the constitution in the 1700s, brotherly love and Fairmount Park. Do share some more Philadelphia highlights when you see me. Or just drop by to say hi, I’d like that.

Not totally unprepared… In this bar they supposedly offer “Gulden Draak” from tap. Yummie!