HBJ : Masterly stuff. Pitching dummy’s jack of spades to transfer the spade menace card to hand was exquiste. Now if I could envisage that degree of technique I would be writing quality blogs like this , instead of the mad cap rubbish I’m doing at the moment. Yours lost in admiration . HBJ

Hi HBJ,

Thanks for your exquisitely kind words.

Please understand that in order to do what you
suggest that I accomplish, all one needs to do is to devote a lifetime to what some might call a frivolous subject and then get a team together to produce it.

The adventures you write about, instead of being “mad cap rubbish”, are real life spoofs of when “stuck up snobs” meet active realistic fun-loving people who, not only know how to enjoy life, but also how to interest others by reminding all of us about the folly involved with the human condition.

To each his own, but when I think of you the words which come to mind are, excellent writing, off-the-charts sense of humor, correct interpretation of other people’s motives, entertainment, and above all, being a great friend. Never, NEVER change!

Almost lost in the play was Ebry’s falsecard of the JC.

Maybe it was “routine” to experts, but not to us lesser mortals. It left East convinced that West had begun with seven clubs to the AQ10.

Perhaps West deserved it, actually, for having opened three clubs with only six and with a 4-card major, as well.

Hi Jim2,

You make a good point about normal high-level technique, having to do with attempting to hide one’s specific holding from the defense.

My other point is more important in that, one must never forget the purpose of deciding to preempt. Since the idea is to take away bidding room from the stronger holding opponents, waiting for the perfect “book” example in order to decide to preempt, sometimes is a long frustrating exercise, so hedge a little (or a lot) in order to be unpredictable and more effective as a tough opponent.