Aces on Bridge — Daily Columns

The Aces on Bridge: Thursday, March 24th, 2022


2 Comments

Iain ClimieApril 7th, 2022 at 12:34 pm

Hi Bobby,

I wonder what form of scoring this was? +650 would be good at pairs (although +1100 or +800 even better) but at IMPs it might have showed up as plus 1 when it should have been +10 or at least +5 against 620. Such boards sneak under the radar at the time, so I can see why the Aces were subject to such searching assessment when they played.

Regards,

Iain

bobbywolffApril 7th, 2022 at 2:20 pm

Hi Iain,

While some of the bridge, bidding, on this column hand, is certainly way below an expected standard, the defense and declarer play was not. There are few words strong enough to condemn East’s choice of 5 clubs, not to mention South’s rejoinder of merrily continuing on to 5 hearts.

However, the good news was the careful, though lucky declarer play, which, after all, was the sole reason for this hand to be publicized for all to glare.

Yes, and no doubt, there were some early hands with the Aces which might have rivaled East’s choice of venturing 5 clubs (after first choosing only 2 diamonds instead of 2NT, or simply passing, and having done that, then carrying on to 5 clubs).

However, I suppose like bringing up children, the good news is that if, when occurring, either the parents of the kid(s) or the coach of the Aces, aided by the considered opinion of the team, needs to come down strong enough (plus outside embarrassment) to make it crystal clear and importantly, the reason(s) why (totally ridiculous and painfully anti-percentage).

Finally, doing that again or something similar will never be tolerated, so immediately learn the lack of regard which is felt or pay, what will be thought to be, a stiff price for not. THIS SUBJECT IS NOW OVER!

And some think playing bridge is just a game.