Many players like to focus on what conventions to play. This is important - but more important still are understandings.
What are understandings? They are general principles (and more specific, too) as to what a myriad of sequences mean. Which bids show extras and which are competitive? What are the upper limits for preempts - and the lower limits for overcalls? When both sides are bidding, what does "pass" indicate and what does "double" show?
For ten days in Orlando, ending this Sunday, the best teams in America are vying to be USA #1 and USA#2. Though you can bet that they have extensive understandings on what all their bids mean - they nevertheless can, and do, have misunderstandings. If you want to see bridge at the top, complete with razzle dazzle and errors by the elite, then tune into Bridgebase for a great vugraph show.
In the meantime, please enjoy this week's "Koch Korner" column. John demonstrates with a specific hand how important it is to have well tuned understandings - and then win like the big boys.
Comments