Hindsight is Double Dummy
Mar. 11th, 2007 08:02 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jianantonicI partnered with Kevin for the first time last night in an open pair game in Lynchburg. It's funny how many of those Lynchburg folks keep to that city and don't venture to nearby towns for bridge - even with as much as I've been playing lately, most people were seeing me for the first time in a year or more. I go way back with a lot of these people, and apparently the weight loss is pretty dramatic if it's been so long between Meg sightings. Lots of people commented and complimented me and it was just the ego boost I needed. Dolling up a bit pays off for the self esteem.
Anyway, I felt as though we got off to a rocky start, mostly a result of my own errors. I always get jittery when playing with someone new, especially someone who is a more advanced player than I am (newbies don't even notice when I fuck up), and I made a few disastrous plays, bids, and non-bids. The thing about playing with Ahren is that there is no such thing as a signoff bid. I know if we have anything between us at all, we'll get to game, because both of us are very aggressive, and there's nothing I hate more than playing a part score one level below game. So I made a few bids that in my partnership with Ahren would still be considered encouraging, but Kevin took them as signoffs (as well he should) and we missed a game and a slam that way. One auction was crazy...let me see if I can remember it. I believe I was 4-3-5-1 with an 18 count and a stiff Q of clubs. Kevin opens 1C. WTF is my bid? Actually I've already forgotten the lay of the cards and the auction, but basically I'm just praying for Kevin to bid 1NT so I can start doing the ace asking business and get us to the slam I think we need. Maybe I had a four card heart suit...now that I think of it my suits must have been hearts and diamonds. Anyway I think the auction looked like this:
1C - p - 1H - p
1S - p - 3D - p
3H - p - 4D - p
5C - p - 6N - p
p - p
That looks right. In order to make, I had to get one of two finesses and no club lead. Everything worked out and I had enough 7 card fits that I was able to manufacture enough tricks to take 12 and not have to worry about my club suit. One finesse was off and there was nothing to be done about that. I haven't looked yet at the hand records or results, so I don't know if it was just average or if it was a top, but it certainly felt like I earned it.
As a caddy, I always prefer 24 board sessions, and as a bridge player, I still don't get why everyone wants 26 or 27. I was tired and really hoping to quit after 24 last night, but the director had us play one more round for 27. Shame, too, because we were in first place going into what can only be described as an embarrassing final round, where we dropped to 3A2B our way and 5th overall for 1.19. Oh well. Kevin and I will probably discuss some hands on the way there - maybe once I'm more awake I'll remember them better to recount them here.
Peace.
Anyway, I felt as though we got off to a rocky start, mostly a result of my own errors. I always get jittery when playing with someone new, especially someone who is a more advanced player than I am (newbies don't even notice when I fuck up), and I made a few disastrous plays, bids, and non-bids. The thing about playing with Ahren is that there is no such thing as a signoff bid. I know if we have anything between us at all, we'll get to game, because both of us are very aggressive, and there's nothing I hate more than playing a part score one level below game. So I made a few bids that in my partnership with Ahren would still be considered encouraging, but Kevin took them as signoffs (as well he should) and we missed a game and a slam that way. One auction was crazy...let me see if I can remember it. I believe I was 4-3-5-1 with an 18 count and a stiff Q of clubs. Kevin opens 1C. WTF is my bid? Actually I've already forgotten the lay of the cards and the auction, but basically I'm just praying for Kevin to bid 1NT so I can start doing the ace asking business and get us to the slam I think we need. Maybe I had a four card heart suit...now that I think of it my suits must have been hearts and diamonds. Anyway I think the auction looked like this:
1C - p - 1H - p
1S - p - 3D - p
3H - p - 4D - p
5C - p - 6N - p
p - p
That looks right. In order to make, I had to get one of two finesses and no club lead. Everything worked out and I had enough 7 card fits that I was able to manufacture enough tricks to take 12 and not have to worry about my club suit. One finesse was off and there was nothing to be done about that. I haven't looked yet at the hand records or results, so I don't know if it was just average or if it was a top, but it certainly felt like I earned it.
As a caddy, I always prefer 24 board sessions, and as a bridge player, I still don't get why everyone wants 26 or 27. I was tired and really hoping to quit after 24 last night, but the director had us play one more round for 27. Shame, too, because we were in first place going into what can only be described as an embarrassing final round, where we dropped to 3A2B our way and 5th overall for 1.19. Oh well. Kevin and I will probably discuss some hands on the way there - maybe once I'm more awake I'll remember them better to recount them here.
Peace.
Board 12
Date: 2007-03-12 03:28 am (UTC)-- Kevin