The Unit 178 Board is having a meeting this coming Saturday, July 18, 11:00AM at the Twin City Bridge Center. An agenda for this meeting is posted below.
Remember; Unit 178 members are welcome to attend and listen if they so choose!
Continue reading "Unit 178 Board Meeting" »
How do the experts do it? They seem to know where to find queens, recognize when a suit is splitting poorly - and even drop those stiff kings offside. Are they mind readers?
They are not - but - they are able to examine all the evidence available and deal with it logically. Today, John Koch demonstrates step by step how all of us can engage in this process!
Continue reading "Trick One Alert" »
Some of bridge is straightforward logic. One can calculate a play that is 100% to work, irrespective of what any player does or how the cards are situated.
Others are not so black and white. One must take into account a competitor's proclivities, the likelihood of one action or another, and so forth.
Today, John Koch presents us with a hand that fits into the latter category. To be successful, declarer must read the "tea leaves" of table action.
Is anyone shocked that John did just that? Naaaaaaah! Please see below the line for another of John's fine articles.
Continue reading "Inferences" »
Sometimes, we are dealt a hand with a long suit where no specific level seems exactly right. Is the hand too weak for a one level bid? Too strong for the two or three level? Better to pass - or just guess and pick one of the above?
Murray Appelbaum presents such a hand, along with the thought processes involved in weighing it all. Thanks, Murray!
Continue reading "How Many?" »
Some of us love to reach for "New York Times" hands. These involve plays that are so dramatic, they would earn the right to be read by millions in the NYTimes bridge column.
Sometimes, however, "New York Times" plays earn not accolades but the booby prize. Sometimes, "normal" saves the day.
How is one to tell which way the wind blows? Today, John Koch offers us such a lesson.
Continue reading "Sublime or Mundane?" »
Teachers and inspiration. When we contemplate them, we think of students who were inspired by their teachers.
Sometimes, however, the tables are turned. A student can inspire the teacher!
Paul Meerschaert shares such a story with us. Somehow, though - my guess is this teacher inspired his students, too.
Thanks, Paul!
Continue reading "A Teacher's Inspiration" »
Those who watched the final match of the team trials were able to view bridge at its most thrilling. The Nickell team faced the Fleischer team: one of the strongest teams in U.S. history, facing a team that had beaten team after team of elite experts from the start of the competition.
The last day of bridge afforded the spectators "can't take your eyes away" hands. Every two to four hands, one team would overtake the other by a few IMPS. Near the end of the penultimate set, the Nickell team built up a moderate lead.
On the first hand of the last set, however, the Fleischer team met with disaster. One pair had a bidding misunderstanding, finally resting in 5 clubs redoubled. Down 1600 translated into a 19 IMP loss for the Fleischer team - and they never recovered.
Mike Cassel has thoughtfully delivered a column that details many of these fascinating hands. Thanks Mike! And - enjoy seeing how the best of the best do what they do in the heat of competition.
Continue reading "Capturing the Excitement" »
Sometimes in life we are dealt second chances. Sometimes those second chances arise at the bridge table, too.
Have you ever had a hand where partner has blown the defense? Sure you have; anyone who plays bridge has hands where this happens.
You have two choices. You can fume and fret and think about how you will berate partner when the hand is over. Or - you can dig deep and see if there is a second chance.
As he always does, John Koch masterfully teaches us. Today? It's all about second chances.
Continue reading "Second Chances" »