Todd is not only enjoying MN AND bridge, he is assuredly learning as much as he can about our game.
We are glad that Todd also is an excellent writer, and shares what he is learning with us! No matter who you are, whether you've played a few months or several decades..... Part of the fascination of bridge is that it's always fascinating, even the most elite continue to study and learn ... And it is NEVER dull!
Our thanks to Todd for his second column!
“Defensive Maneuvers”
Bridge Bulletin column by Paul Ross.
In college, I learned bridge from my mates in the chess club. Really. Our club treasurer Dave was a good friend. He was also my favorite partner, as we were both in novice mode. Back then we had Goren for bidding and Watson for play of the hand. Maybe we had scratched the latter author’s guidance on attitude signals, as I remember one hand leading a king (from AK in those stone age days) and noticed Dave’s intermediate card. At trick two I saw him drop the deuce under my ace. The third card of that side suit was covered by dummy’s queen and partner ruffed. The opponents eventually went down two.
I remember that hand because that one small triumph switched on a light in my brain. I wasn’t worried about conceding a trick to a master card in the suit. Not only did I notice the signal, but I trusted Dave’s guidance on the play. Suddenly, bridge was a lot more than 4-3-2-1 counting and plunking down high cards on top of low cards. The game was afoot.
Sometimes when I’m defending I’m not sure what I should be doing. When I fail badly, I don’t even think I asked the right questions. That’s why I enjoy one of the newest Bridge Bulletin writers, Paul Ross. His column, “Defensive Maneuvers,” has become a favorite.
The ACBL braintrust planted it in the intermediate section, and that seems about right to me. Let me click off the plusses. First, good writing: crisp and concise. Second, he assumes the reader is an intelligent student of the game—the basics are already in place. Third, I value an educator who asks questions of students. There are a lot of teachers who like to hear themselves talk, talk, talk. When a mentor is asking questions, it shows she or he wants the person to think. I know I can’t become a better defender unless I’m forming myself to think, to ask the right questions.
In the year since Mr Ross debuted as a columnist, I like being challenged with his questions, starting with the very basic things a NLM can and should be asking when defending. For me, some of it is review—and that’s not a bad thing.
Best of all, I’m starting to think about defense like the title suggests: outmaneuvering declarer for a triumph. Sometimes plus 100 is much more satisfying than plus 980.
Comments