I have some extra advice for ” keep it cool”. I used to be hyper competitive, even aggressive before taking 25 years away from the game. When I came back I soon adopted a more relaxed attitude ( and possibly even played better) after a gruesome incident. Somebody at a club where I played had a seizure or attack and, after phoning for an ambulance, asked for advice. I wound up hauling 14 stone of bridge player off his chair and giving him CPR for about 7 mins until the paramedics turned up with oxygen and then electric shock equipment – all that time in the gym and pool proved worthwhile in the end.
Sadly (he was a lovely bloke) he didn’t make it but his wife was with him in the hospital when the medics eventually gave up. A partner of an old friend wasn’t so lucky – he keeled over in the middle oif a hand and the post mortem suggested he was dead by the time he hit the floor. One club where I did play had a defibrillator though which saved somebody. Gloom aside, and ignoring football manager Bill Shankly’s tongue in cheek quote (football’s not a matter of life or death – it is far morr important than that) or the potential presence of a Myrtle Bennett or similar at the table, worse things happen at sea. Also biting partners, even if only verbally, rarely makes them play better, a point I Learned the hard way.
Regards,
Iain
pppcheu@btinternet.comAugust 13th, 2023 at 2:01 pm
Hi Iain, I am sure many can relate to your experience and as the years go by we have all hopefully changed for the better..speaking from experience..:D Regards Patrick
bobbywolffAugust 13th, 2023 at 2:56 pm
Hi Iain,
Your experiences are indeed worth remembering and even more so, worth relating. Without them, many of us would have inferiority complexes for having similar experiences in, believe it or not, even ventures away from the bridge table.
Love thy friends and thy neighbors, but hate your bridge opponents or otherwise they may play up to par, which is intended to mean passable.
All the above is not intended to become a beast at the table, but it is an excellent way to get a head start. And don’t forget one’s partner. If insulting him upgrades his concentration, by all means keep it up. Whatever it takes
to win, even if it is restricted by the rules and would be called cheating does
one need to relax his tendencies to be on top.
IOW, different strokes for different folks is the motto, except for beautiful women trying to win beauty contests. For them, it may take on something more physical but for mere mortal bridge players, come alive and aggressive
before your partner dozes off at the table.
Possibly kidding, but in actuality, not completely.
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Hi Bobby,
I have some extra advice for ” keep it cool”. I used to be hyper competitive, even aggressive before taking 25 years away from the game. When I came back I soon adopted a more relaxed attitude ( and possibly even played better) after a gruesome incident. Somebody at a club where I played had a seizure or attack and, after phoning for an ambulance, asked for advice. I wound up hauling 14 stone of bridge player off his chair and giving him CPR for about 7 mins until the paramedics turned up with oxygen and then electric shock equipment – all that time in the gym and pool proved worthwhile in the end.
Sadly (he was a lovely bloke) he didn’t make it but his wife was with him in the hospital when the medics eventually gave up. A partner of an old friend wasn’t so lucky – he keeled over in the middle oif a hand and the post mortem suggested he was dead by the time he hit the floor. One club where I did play had a defibrillator though which saved somebody. Gloom aside, and ignoring football manager Bill Shankly’s tongue in cheek quote (football’s not a matter of life or death – it is far morr important than that) or the potential presence of a Myrtle Bennett or similar at the table, worse things happen at sea. Also biting partners, even if only verbally, rarely makes them play better, a point I Learned the hard way.
Regards,
Iain
Hi Iain, I am sure many can relate to your experience and as the years go by we have all hopefully changed for the better..speaking from experience..:D Regards Patrick
Hi Iain,
Your experiences are indeed worth remembering and even more so, worth relating. Without them, many of us would have inferiority complexes for having similar experiences in, believe it or not, even ventures away from the bridge table.
Love thy friends and thy neighbors, but hate your bridge opponents or otherwise they may play up to par, which is intended to mean passable.
All the above is not intended to become a beast at the table, but it is an excellent way to get a head start. And don’t forget one’s partner. If insulting him upgrades his concentration, by all means keep it up. Whatever it takes
to win, even if it is restricted by the rules and would be called cheating does
one need to relax his tendencies to be on top.
IOW, different strokes for different folks is the motto, except for beautiful women trying to win beauty contests. For them, it may take on something more physical but for mere mortal bridge players, come alive and aggressive
before your partner dozes off at the table.
Possibly kidding, but in actuality, not completely.
Hi Bobby, Patrick,
Thanks for the kind comments – much appreciated.
Iain