Simplicity

We’ve all known the “big boys” who like to strut into a game, chests pumped up and a large heavy bag of complicated bidding conventions in hand.

Their intent is intimidation of the “little people” with their prowess. We, the little people, must not pay attention to them, being mindful of our partnership and our own business at hand. We can keep our auctions simple and still manage to win. We must, according to Adam Parrish in the February Bridge Bulletin, stay focused on arriving at the correct contract, level and suit.

First order of business is to determine if we have 25 points together for game. If so we must find that game. We must manage our bids by not ever making a non-forcing bid until game level is reached.

Examples of non-forcing bids are: 1. Rebidding your own suit, 2. Raising partner’s bid, 3. Bidding NT at less than game level. Go slowly, pushing partner to game level. By the time game level is determined your suit or NT should be obvious and the correct contract attained.

The Friday, Feb. 1h Evergreen STaC game was well attended and competitive. Our winners were: N/S 1st and over-all Fern Albracht and Shirley Jeffers, 2nd and 3rd over-all Judy Weber and Ron Jeffers, 3rd Ron Caudle and Don Webster, 4th Judy Hurder and Toni Iossi;

E/W 1st and 2nd over-all Jean and Loyd Hill, 2nd and 4th over-all John and Myrnie McLaughlin, 3rd Judy Gealy and Carol Bachl, 4th Margaret and Chuck Rimer.

Featured is board # 8 from this STaC game no one vulnerable West dealer

NORTH:

S 3 2

H  J 7 4 3

D  A Q 5 2

C  K 8 3

WEST:              EAST:

S  K 8 6 5          S  Q T 9

H  K T 6 5         H  A 9

D  K J                D  4

C  A 9 7              C  Q J T 6 5 4 2

SOUTH:

S A J 7 4

H  Q 8 2

D  T 9 8 7 6 3

C ­—

Joe O’Brien and Anita Graham were best N/S defeating opponent’s 3NE* 2 tricks with a diamond lead by South and the best E/W score 3NW+2 by Billie and John Nordan. In this case the direction of the declarer made all the difference.

The Women’s Club Feb. 20 game was again a large game with 8.5 tables.  Winning were: N/S 1st Marie Pugh and Dick Brisbin, 2nd Mack Brown and Marvin Jones, tied for 3rd /4th  Judy Hurder and Phyllis Rominger with Becky Creekmore and Pat Macon;

E/W 1st Patty and Robbo Williams, 2nd Patsy Reynolds and John McLaughlin, 3rd Lawana Ford and Betty Bills, 4th Margaret and Chuck Rimer.