Though this time of year in Minnesota can be as quirky as some of our bridge games -
Almost 90 degrees on one day - then 45 and jackets the next
(Kinda like having a 77% game one day - and 43% the next)
Being with REAL LIVE friends at the table is the best!
Connie Nelson, our reporter from St. Cloud, describes just how swell it is
And how much players are looking forward to being Together Again!
Together Again!
By Connie Nelson
Many of our St Cloud Bridge Club members recently gathered for the first time since March 2020. No – it wasn’t for a face to face game at our Club quite yet. But over twenty of us – all fully vaccinated – came together April 30th to celebrate the 90th Birthday of one of our own – Jim Mustain.
Jim Mustain – in the middle with red tie – and his St Cloud Bridge Club friends!
Scott Krupke and Mark Doucette of our Club affectionally address Jim Mustain as “General.” Mostly this is to honor his military service, and the fact that Jim was ROTC instructor at Saint John’s University from 1973-1975. But they coined the nickname “General” when they first came to play bridge at our club, and Jim helped instruct them on how to play. Always a gentleman away from the bridge table, when things aren’t going quite right at the table, Jim has been known to occasionally “bark” out a few suggestions for our betterment.
And, Jim – a Gold Life Master – does know his bridge. Several bridge trophies were displayed at his party, including an Open Pairs trophy won with partner John Koch back in 1973!
Prior to COVID, Jim was my standing partner the first Wednesday of each month. We haven’t won any Open Pairs events, but we both enjoy our game.
Jim and I like to play the Ogust convention after a weak-two opening bid by one of us. I learned from Jim that I was mis-pronouncing this bid. I would alert it as O-gust (long O), but Jim says it is pronounced the same as the month of August. He knows this because Harold Ogust – for whom the convention is named - often appeared on Charles Goren’s TV program, Championship Bridge back in the early 60’s, and Jim watched that show religiously.
For those who may not know, the Ogust convention is used after a Weak Two opening bid by partner, in order to gauge the strength of the weak-two bidder's hand. The responder bids 2NT, asking opener to further describe both his/her six-card suit and high card points. The standard Ogust responses are:
- 3♣shows a "minimal" hand with a "poor" suit
- 3♦shows a "minimal" hand with a "good" suit
- 3♥shows a "maximal" hand with a "poor" suit
- 3♠shows a "maximal" hand with a "good" suit
- 3NT shows a "solid" suit (that is, AKQ of the long suit)
What constitutes “minimal” and “maximal” is up to partnership agreement, but Jim and I play that “minimal” is 5-8 points, and “maximal” is 8-11 points. A “poor” six card suit would be one without 2 of the top 3 honors, or 3 of the top 5 honors. I find Ogust to be quite informative in placing a contract.
Jim Mustain hasn’t been playing much bridge during COVID, as he doesn’t play online. We are both waiting for the day when we can partner again the first Wednesday of each month, and he can teach me some new conventions – along with their correct pronunciations! Happy Birthday, Jim.
I look forward to us all being Together Again!
Comments