Steve Gaynor sent this message to me from a recent regional in Detroit. I love how many of us did indeed struggle and sweat as we began to learn the mega-complexities of our amazing game!
Here is a fun hand from the regional in Detroit last week. It meant a lot to go back home where I struggled so in my first 12 years of bridge and come away with some good results. I told one of the players who is currently in his struggling era that his turn will come, just stick to it.
Board 26 – All vul – Dealer East
A K 10 7 6
K 6 5
Q J 10 9 8
---
9 5 8 2
Q 10 9 4 A J 8
A K 4 5 3
A Q 9 6 J 10 8 5 4 2
Q J 4 3
7 3 2
7 6 2
K 7 3
E S W N
P P 1N 2D*
P 2H** P 2S
3C 3S 4C 4S
P P 5C P
P X All pass
Jean & I went to Detroit to play in the first live ACBL regional since the pandemic started. Several ACBL dignitaries were also in attendance like Executive Director Joe Jones, BOD president Georgia Heth, Director of Operations, Greg Coles and District 12 BOD representative, Dennis Carman.
After the defense took two spade tricks, North shifted to a diamond. Unsure of how to play trumps, Jean decided to use the Murray Applebaum Discovery Play (play side suits to get info on distribution before tackling trumps) and hooked the hearts. Finding North with three, she now played South for all the missing clubs, figuring that North would not enter this auction vulnearable without 5-5. Plus 750 was worth all the matchpoints and helped us to a nice overall finish in the two session regional pair event. Murray, a consistent winner of open events was also one of most charming, witty players who graced the Twin City bridge tables. I hope he was up there watching his famous play succeed.
Murray Applebaum was a long time Minnesota player and a true character. I, like Steve, do hope that Murray is looking down on our Minnesota contingency of competitors and remembering the years and years of fun, excitement - and occasional agony! - that we all face At the Table!
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