Better Bridge in Barry County September 5 2013

Better Bridge in Barry County

By Gerald Stein

 

 

Captain M. North surveyed the pile of luggage and supplies he had just unloaded from his SUV. Fishing gear, including poles, reels, tackle, raingear, and more luggage covered the driveway. Captain North sighed. It had been a great trip. He had accomplished one of his dream vacations: fishing the waters of Ontario, Canada and playing bridge during the same vacation. What could be better than that?

Captain North surveyed the luggage and his mind went back to the end of the summer and the last of the cruises down the Thornapple River on the Barry County Bridge Barge. Despite the cold and wet August, Captain North felt that it had been another excellent year of providing bridge aboard his BCBB as well as enjoying the scenic spots along the Thornapple River. A vacation was something he had planned for several years and when he saw an ad for a fishing vacation as well as a bridge-playing opportunity, well, he was hooked, so to speak.

Captain North had left Barry County on a Tuesday late in August and headed north to the first of three stops along his tour. First was the Petoskey Regional, a chance to play bridge three times a day for seven days in a row. What could be better than that? Adding on the fishing, of course. Captain North stayed one night in Petoskey playing duplicate bridge and adding the first 200 miles to his trip.

After a successful and entertaining time at the Odawa Casino, Captain North left early on Wednesday, planning a long drive across the Upper Peninsula and arriving 450 miles later at the Superior, Wisconsin and Duluth, Minnesota area for an overnight. There would be no bridge that night as the driving had occupied most of the day. There would still be more driving the next day when he finished the last leg of his journey: 250 miles to Baudette, Minnesota passing through Canadian customs and journeying to Morson Marina for the last bit of driving before arriving at Ontario’s Lake of the Woods.

Crossing the border was easily done the next day and the boat from the fishing lodge was there promptly to pick him up and take him on a twenty minute boat ride through islands, rocks, trees, and water. Lake of the Woods in western Ontario is a huge lake, bordering the United States, Ontario, and Manitoba Province. Home for giant musky, northern pike, smallmouth bass, walleye, crappie, and perch, this was a spot for the avid fisherman. An extra perk was the fact that July and August also featured bridge-playing opportunities at least twice a day, after lunch and after dinner each night on an island out in the middle of Lake of the Woods.

Captain North was in fish-and-bridge heaven. Mornings brought a wake-up call from the loons on the lake outside of the lodge. Following breakfast, a half-day of fishing would produce the fish for a shore lunch cooked to perfection by the lodge staff, served with potatoes and onions, baked beans, and a homemade cake each noontime. Bridge in the afternoons and bridge in the evenings rounded out the day. Captain North sighed again as he thought of the wonderful meals, the great fishing, and the fun times at the bridge table.

The four-day package soon ended, and Captain North was once again on his way back to the United States. Another long day of driving with 515 miles would find him at the Harris Island Resort Casino, the home of the WUMBA tournament that Rosie and Vera were always talking about. WUMBA, the Wisconsin Upper Michigan Bridge Association, offered a Regional bridge tournament every two years in the small town of Harris, not far from Escanaba. Here Captain North would stay for another four nights playing bridge morning, noon, and night. While there was no fishing there, whitefish was on the menu and provided excellent fare for the hungry bridge players who enjoyed the hospitality of the Upper Peninsula hosts.

As always, all good things come to an end, and now Captain North stood looking over all of the gear that he had taken with him. While he had not used all of it, he was glad that he had the gear just in case. With fond memories of his travels and time spent fishing as well as playing bridge, Captain North knew that he had experienced one of those rare moments in a person’s life when all had gone along so perfectly, so flawlessly, that there was nothing more to say. It was a good set of days.

 

Gerald Stein

Number of words: 873

August 30, 2013

 

Bridge Notes: There really is a place where you can travel to play bridge and fish to your heart’s content. Visit Amason’s Obabikon Lodge at www.obabikon.com for information about their July and August bridge schedules. Travel from Barry County to Obabikon Bay Lodge is just over 950 miles each way, traveling through Upper Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and a short way into western Ontario.

Bridge Notes Two: Captain North managed to play bridge fifteen times with an average of 25 hands a time for an astonishing 375 hands of bridge during his vacation.

 

 

Better Bridge in Barry County August 29 2013

Better Bridge in Barry County

By Gerald Stein

 

 

	North ♠  10 ♥  9 5 4  ♦  K 5 3   ♣  Q 10 9 7 5 2
West ♠  K J 9 7 5 ♥  8 7   ♦  10 7    ♣  A K 6 3		East ♠  3 2 ♥  K Q 3 2 ♦  Q J 9 6 4 2   ♣  8
	South ♠  A Q 8 6 4 ♥  A J 10 6   ♦  A 8   ♣  J 4

 

 

Dealer: Vulnerable: Lead:

North Neither 7♠

 

North Pass 2NT Pass	East Pass Pass Pass	South 1NT 3NT	West 2♠ Pass

 

Captain M. North looked at his watch, and at the same time he looked up at the sky. August had been a cool month with more than its share of rain. Would the Barry County Bridge Barge venture down the Thornapple again in such inclement weather? Would any bridge players show up for a chilly ride during these last days of August? Captain North sighed. There was nothing to do but wait and see if there were enough brave souls to venture out on such a threatening day. Captain North looked at his watch again. It was almost time for departure, and two more players would fill four tables, hardly the seven or eight that normally played on his weekly bridge excursions down the Thornapple River.

Just then Captain North heard a familiar cry, “Oh Captain North, wait for us! We are hurrying as fast as we can.” Captain looked up to see his two favorite bridge players, Rosie and Vera, scurrying across the parking lot to the landing at Port Tyden Park. He waved back. “Come aboard, you two. We now have four tables for this afternoon’s cruise.”

Vera and Rosie scurried up the gangplank, and they quickly sat down at the closest table. “Will we have a cruise today, Captain North?” asked Vera. She was quickly downing a swig of water from her water bottle. “I am not sure,” answered the Captain. “I am a bit concerned about the threatening clouds in the west. They appear to be moving our way. I think we will hold here for a bit just to make sure we are on the safe side.”

“Oh, that is wonderful,” said Rosie, as she too took a drink of water. “We have the most wonderful hand to tell you about. Would you like to hear it while we are waiting to see if the weather clears?” Captain North only nodded and sat down at their table after informing the others that there would be a short delay because of the weather.

“Well, Captain North, you know we are always partners, and this hand came up at the WUMBA tournament in Escanaba. Do you know where Escanaba is, Captain North?” The Captain nodded. “I was South and had this lovely hand.” Here she pulled out the card diagram and spread it in front of the Captain. “With 16 high card points, I opened 1NT. Now, before you say anything, I know that I should not have opened a no trump hand with two doubletons, but look at that lovely A♦ in the one doubleton.” Here Rosie paused long enough to catch her breath.

Vera took over, “Yes, Captain, and guess what that naughty West did? Why, he overcalled 2♠. Can you imagine? Why, that put me in a pickle, I can tell you that.” She too paused for a second. “But I recovered and bid a 2NT bid. Now that is not a point-showing hand, but a transfer bid to the minor suits. I expected my partner Rosie to bid three clubs, the next suit up, and I would have passed. But, Captain North, do you know what Rosie did?”

“Yes, Captain North, I bid three no trump! I knew that Mr. West had five spades and so did I and I would always play after him as long as he had the lead. His  lead? Why, the 7♠. My 10♠ held the trick, and I had one trick in and eight to go.” Rosie was beaming with delight at her good fortune.

“I thanked my partner Vera for her hand even though there were only five high-card points there, but I could see a future in those clubs. I led the 2♣ from the board, played the J♣ in my  hand, and Mr. West pounced on it with the K♣. Everyone had played a club. West next led the 8♥, I played low from the board, and East played the Q♥. I took the trick with the A♥. I led my last club, the 4♣ from my hand, and once again, West took the trick winning with the A♣. I had succeeded in knocking out the big boys.” Here Vera and Rosie burst into laughter, and the Captain could only smile.

Rosie continued her story. “West returned another heart to his partner East who took the K♥ and led back a small spade. Now you might think I would go for the finesse, Captain North, but I knew it was doomed to lose. West had to have the K♠, so I went right up with the A♠. I next played the A♦ from my hand, (Remember that wonderful A♦,  Captain?), and then played another diamond from my hand to the K♦ on the board. From there, it was child’s play as I played the four remaining clubs starting with the Q♣ on down. I led my last little heart on the board back to my good J♥ and that was it.” Here Rosie raised her water bottle in a toast to herself and to Vera. They clinked water bottles.

Captain North looked up. “Did anyone else make 3NT and an overtrick besides you two?” “Why, no, Captain North. The hand was played 26 times, and no one else went to no trump on that hand. They all transferred to clubs and played at three clubs. We had a top score of 430 and a 100% because we were the only ones who bid and made three no trump plus.”

Captain North rose from his chair. He looked up. The sun was shining. The clouds had disappeared. “Well, Rosie and Vera, you certainly have brought good luck on board today with your story. Let’s get this bridge cruise underway. What do you say?”

“Let’s do it!” exclaimed Vera and Rosie, laughing and enjoying the wonderful moment.

 

Gerald Stein

August 7, 2013

Number of words: 1080

Better Bridge in Barry County August 22 2013

Better Bridge in Barry County

By Gerald Stein

 

 

	North ♠  2  ♥  K J 10 9 7 4 3 2    ♦  9 6 4 2   ♣  ---
West ♠  9 8 7 6 5 ♥  ---   ♦  Q J 10 7    ♣  K 9 7 2		East ♠  Q 10 ♥  Q 6   ♦  K 8 5 ♣  Q J 8 6 4 3
	South ♠  A K J 4 3 ♥  A 8 5 ♦  A 3   ♣  A 10 5

 

 

Dealer: Vulnerable: Lead:

West Both Q♦

 

North   4♥ Pass	East   Pass Pass	South   7NT	West Pass Pass

Every bridge player remembers the bid-and-made 7NT contracts. It is like hitting a grand slam home run, or scoring a hole-in-one in golf. While a rarity in all fields, it does indeed happen from time to time in baseball, in golf, and in bridge as well. Today’s hand offers a glimpse of the thrill of bidding and making a seven no trump contract. Cover the East/West cards to see if you can figure out how it was done in a recent online tournament.

After a pass by dealer West, North, with eight hearts and not much more, preempted with a 4♥ bid. East passed, and South began a short huddle to determine the best contract for the North/South pair. Knowing that there were eleven hearts between them, South’s first thought went to a trump suit in hearts, but upon further reflection, with all suits stopped, South boldly bid 7NT. All passed, and the contract was set.

West led the Q♦, the top of a sequence, and it was as good a lead as any. South surveyed the dummy with all of those hearts, a void in clubs, a singleton in spades, and some troublesome diamonds, especially given the lead from West. Thanking partner first was always a given. The plan began next with South counting the number of winners in both hands since it was a no trump contract. Needing all thirteen tricks, South counted twelve tricks immediately: Eight heart tricks, two spade tricks, one diamond trick, and one club trick. Where would the thirteenth trick come from?

With his plan in place, South won the opening lead with the A♦ in his hand. A small heart to the K♥ on the board came next with West showing no hearts. A small heart from the dummy back to the A♥ in the South hand captured the Q♥ from East. So much for trump.

South began the spade suit next, leading the A♠, and all followed, although South did note that East played the 10♠ on the first trick. Confidently, South plunked down the K♠, and while West followed suit, and South discarded a diamond from the board, it was the Q♠ that fell from the East hand. Home free, South led the J♠ discarding yet another diamond from the board, and East showed out of spades. The A♣ from the South hand made the last diamond go away, and South claimed the remaining tricks with nothing but trump left on the board. Thirteen tricks in, bid and made, for a Grand Slam in No Trump. A score of 2220 resulted in a top board for the North/South team as other pairs elected to play in hearts for their slam choices.

How often does a Grand Slam, especially in no trump, show up in a friendly social bridge game or in a competitive bridge tournament? That is an easy answer. Not often enough!

Gerald Stein

August 4, 2013

Number of words: 637

Bridge Notes: Classes for the fall from Kellogg Community College’s Institute for Learning and Life Long Learning programs are now available online. Check and see what bridge courses are available for you and your partner. You will soon be on your way to that coveted 7NT contract.

Better Bridge in Barry County August 15 2013

Better Bridge in Barry County

By Gerald Stein

 

 

	North ♠  A 7 6 5    ♥  4  ♦  9 7 4 3   ♣  10 7 3 2
West ♠  Q 10 9 4 3 2 ♥  J 8 6 2 ♦  J 8    ♣  4		East ♠  J ♥  K Q 9 ♦  K Q 10 5   ♣  Q J 9 8 5
	South ♠  K 8 ♥  A 10 7 5 3 ♦  A 6 2 ♣  A K 6

 

 

Dealer: Vulnerable: Lead:

South Both 4♥

 

North   Pass Pass	East   2NT! Pass	South 1NT Pass Pass	West Pass 3♦

Today’s column continues to look at defense as a means to score well in a bridge game. South, as dealer, opened a standard 1NT bid with strong stoppers in all four suits. With no response from North with only four high-card points, East bid 2NT, an alertable convention that East/West played in certain situations. Called the Cappelletti Convention, this artificial bid said nothing about a no trump hand. Instead, East’s bid of 2NT promised 5+ clubs and 5+ diamonds, and at least 15 total points. West was forced to bid, and West bid reluctantly, naming diamonds as her better minor suit. How West wished she could have mentioned her spades, but bridge agreements are all about trusting your partner and your bidding agreement. The bid of 3♦ held, and West was the declarer.

With the lead of the 4♥ from North, West played the K♥ from the dummy, taken by the A♥ from South. South led the K♣ at the second trick, winning, and she led the A♣ at the third trick that was trumped by 8♦ in the West hand. South had missed the count signal from North letting her know that by the play of the 7♣, a high card, that she had an even number of clubs, probably four. An alert South would have shifted to another suit rather than setting up the clubs in the dummy. This signal had to be a count signal as there was no use encouraging a club return with the Q♣ and the J♣ sitting there in full view for all to see.

West led the J♥ from her hand, only to see North trump with the 4♦, another count signal suggesting an even number of trumps. North led the 3♣ next, and the trick was won on the board by the Q♣ with West discarding a heart. A continuation of the J♣ saw South put up the A♦ to secure the trick for North/South. The lead of the 5♥ from South saw West trump with her last trump, the J♦. A small spade from West lost to the A♠ from North. East/West were able to secure the rest of the tricks by drawing the last of the trumps and claiming for down one trick vulnerable.

While it is true that North/South set the East/West team for down one trick and a minus 100 for the East/West team, it is important to think that North/South might have prevailed even better with a better defense on this hand. Missing the count signal might have cost a trick, giving West a place to discard a loser. While North/South did receive the top score of 100% on this board, most of the other North/South teams elected to play in 2NT themselves, going down at least one trick for a minus score. Playing defense can pay off at times.

Finally, sometimes, new conventions can work out just fine, and sometimes, like in this case, there was a definite shortage of diamonds between the two hands for East/West, and that led to a difficult play of the hand. The problem appears that East oversold her hand a bit. Using the Cappelletti Convention, she should have had five clubs and five diamonds to make use of this convention and to try for a fit in a minor suit after a strong 1NT bid. With only four diamonds, East probably stretched her hand, thinking it would work out just right. Unfortunately, for East/West, they received a bottom board for their efforts. Playing defense, as North/South did, worked for them, but even then, there were some defensive gaffes on their end as well. Bridge is a game of constantly improving and looking for the right cards and the right communication between you and your partner. Keep working on that partnership agreement.

 

Gerald Stein

August 2, 2013

Number of words: 811

Bridge Notes: Good news for those bridge players who wish to brush up or learn new skills in the defensive part of bridge. An American Contract Bridge League class on defensive signals, both attitude and counting signals, will be offered at Kellogg Community College this fall. Call the Life Long Learning office at KCC for information regarding “Defense in the 21^st Century.” Bring your partner and work on defensive skills together.

Better Bridge in Barry County August 8 2013

Better Bridge in Barry County

By Gerald Stein

 

 

	North ♠  9 6 3 ♥  K 7 2  ♦  Q10 3 ♣  K 8 5 2
West ♠  J 10 5 4 ♥  10 5 ♦  K 9 8 7 2   ♣  9 3		East ♠  A Q 8 7 ♥  Q 6 4 ♦  6 5 ♣  J 10 7 4
	South ♠  K 2 ♥  A J 9 8 3   ♦  A J 4   ♣  A Q 6

 

 

Dealer: Vulnerable: Lead:

North Neither 4♠

 

North Pass 3NT	East Pass Pass	South 2NT Pass	West Pass Pass

Sometimes declaring bridge players are lucky. Sometimes the defense is lax in its card playing and allows a contract to be made when it really should have been set. Let’s look at what happened in today’s deal taken from a recent online tournament.

With neither side vulnerable, South opened the bidding at 2NT with 19 high-card points and one for the length in hearts. Why did South elect to ignore the five-card major as an opening bid? The most common reason is that 2NT, while not a forcing bid in most players’ agreement, tells partner a lot of information in one bid: twenty total points and a balanced hand. That is exactly what South had in her hand on this round. With a balanced hand as well as eight high-card points, North readily accepted the invitation to game in 3NT.

West led the 4♠, hoping to save the K♦ as an entry later on. Fourth card down from the spade suit seemed like a normal lead. What happened to the defense later on is suspect. Low from the dummy, Q♠ from East, and taken by South with the K♠.

South planned to take the clubs first with solid honors to see if the fourth club on the board would set up. Unfortunately, that line of action did not work, and South took three club tricks in a row, ending up on the board with the K♣. South next began to work on the diamonds leading the Q♦ from the board and letting it ride to West’s K♦. Here was the crucial point for the defense, and it appeared that the first part went according to their defensive plan: West led the J♠ winning, but East played the 7♠ on the J♠. What difference would that make? It made all of the difference in the world to the contract. Playing the 8♠ would have been an attitude signal card saying, “Lead another spade. I can take it.” Instead, West feared that the A♠ was in the South hand and shifted to the 9♦. South drew a sigh of relief as the defense failed to take the setting trick.

With the spades out of the way, the diamonds set up, it remained for South to get lucky again. South took the two diamond tricks, the J♦ and then the A♦, in her hand. East had failed again throwing away a small heart, leaving the Q♥ exposed to falling to a happy South. South took the K♥ on the board, and West threw the Q♥ on the K♥. Leading a heart back to her hand, South took the last four tricks with the J♥, the A♥, and the 9♥ and the 8♥. South took eleven tricks for two over, and a top score of plus 460.

Giving away a top board to North/South with a 93.5% was criminal. East/West failed in their defense in a number of ways, but most of the blame can be placed on East for failing to use proper defensive signals. Playing the 8♠ instead of the 7♠, while it seems rather insignificant, would have given West an inclination to continue the spade suit. The attitude card indicated an interest in continuing the spades instead of a shift to the diamonds. A return of the spade suit with encouragement from East would have resulted in three spade tricks for East/West, one diamond trick, and one club trick, the J♣. East must take the J♣ first, however, after winning a spade return as it is the last club out. Then East can lead her last spade. In addition, East must try not to throw away a heart on a discard. Instead, she should pitch a diamond, and save the three hearts to make it tough for South to know where the Q♥ is. On this hand, that may have been impossible once the spades were not led again. Sometimes, the declarer is lucky, and sometimes the defense is poor. In today’s hand, it appears that East/West need to review their defensive signaling to help them avoid a disastrous score on what should have been a top score for them.

 

Gerald Stein

August 1, 2013

Number of words: 866

Bridge Notes: Good news for those bridge players who wish to brush up or learn new skills in the defensive part of bridge. An American Contract Bridge League class on defensive signals, both attitude and counting signals, will be offered at Kellogg Community College this fall. Call the Life Long Learning office at KCC for information regarding “Defense in the 21^st Century.” Bring your partner and work on defensive skills together.