After winning our first round by a slight margin, my Swiss Team squad of Kerry Holloway, Melody Bi, Paul Meerschaert and myself sat down to play unfamiliar faces. "We've never played in a Swiss Team before," said our opponents. Kerry and I kindly informed them how to make the boards and compare. "Try to get plus scores," I advised.
Well. That's the last time I ever give newcomers any advice! (Heh heh heh.) When the
dust cleared, the newcomers had more plus scores than we did and more IMPS, too. Indeed; they were our only loss of the day. (And for inquiring minds; no, we did not win the event. That honor went to two mixed pairs: Sharon and Roger
Anderson with Judy and Phil Schwarz.)
But - back to our brave newcomers. Remember the tale of four players who had never competed in a Swiss Team, who lived to beat a team whose masterpoint totals are in the tens of thousands. Sometimes it is your day - if you believe it is!
Well done to our opponents - and to the ultimate winners of the Swiss.