Rules, rules, rules

Yes duplicate bridge is a rules-based game but too many players get caught trying to follow each one exactly.

More appropriately, Rules need to be understood but used wisely. Look beyond them to understand their logic and mold them to achieve your goal to make your contract. In the January Bridge Bulletin, Adam Parrish, a new contributor, explains this concept.

His example: We all “know” you draw trumps as soon as possible. But this may not be wise every time. Declarer must identify his losers only from his hand and form a strategy that may include using his trumps to negate losers by trumping them before drawing them. Look at every hand as a new problem using the rules and the idea and logic behind them.

The Friday, Feb. 2 Evergreen game was well attended and challenging. Winning were: N/S 1st Judy Hurder and Toni Iossi, 2nd Ron Jeffers and Judy Gealy, 3rd Ruth Bowles and Marie Pugh;

E/W strats A and B 1st Anita Graham and Joe O’Brien, 2nd John and Myrnie McLaughlin, 3rd BettyBonner Steele and Patty King; 1st in strat B 1st Billie and John Nordan.

Featured is board # 20 from the February 2nd game

All vulnerable West dealer

NORTH:

S  Q 9 7 6

H  Q 9 6 3

D  K 4 2

C  A 2

WEST:                 EAST:

S  A K J 8 3          S 4 2

H  J T 2                H  A 8 7 5 4

D  5                       D  Q J 3

C  K Q 8 7            C  J T 3

SOUTH:

S  T 5

H  K

D   A T 9 8 7 6

C   9 6 5 4

Judy Hurder and Toni Iossi was best N/S defeating 1NTE 3 tricks while John and Billie Nordan bid 2HE making 3 for the best E/W score

The Feb. 6 Women’s Club game winners : N/S 1st Roy Barrow and Don Webster, 2nd Ron Jeffers and Ann Hamm, 3rd A strat and 1st B strat Billie and John Nordan , 2nd B strat Betty Bills and Lawana Ford.