If you love bridge, then you love a report of fascinating bridge, wherever in the world it is occurring.
This hand is the last hand of the European Championships that just concluded. Mike Cassel, star reporter, was kind enough to spot it and share it with us.
Thanks, Mike! Enjoy seeing world class bridge, Minnesota!
Continue reading "Last Hand of the European Championships" »
Steve Gaynor provide us with a cute story that actually happened at the table!
Thanks, Steve; Board One is posted below!
Many of us, when given the opportunity, will kibitz some of the greats. Why?
Because you might see them commit a magic trick like this one! Enjoy watching the incredible Geir Helgemo in action!
Steve Gaynor and partner recently traveled to Big D to compete in a sectional. Many fine players in that part of the country - and Steve had the chance to play against two of the best.
What happened? Steve will let you know below!
People sometimes wonder how to improve their game. We have a wide variety of ways to do this: play a lot more, discuss with your partner, kibitz good players - and reading/studying. If you do enough of the last, then not only will you learn, you will be humbled by our fine game.
An excellent site to read about bridge is the source of a fascinating true story. Bob Hamman, one of the greatest to ever play our game (some say the greatest), was competing in the 1980 Olympiad finals. His opponents reached a grand slam in a competitive auction. Bob was on opening lead with two aces.
The story is here. Before you read the end of the tale, try to determine which ace you would choose!
Bob got it wrong - and that decision ended up being the difference in a win or loss.
The more you read - the more you will learn. And the more you will appreciate that, no matter who you are and no matter your abilities, no one ever selects the winning choice all the time!
Doing well at bridge is a result of a wide variety of skills - and - of, overall, making many good decisions.
Paul Meerschaert, one of our state's top players, makes far more good decisions than most. Today, Paul shares some of his wisdom about how to do it.
Please read Paul's article below - and you, too can make fine decisions!
Much about bridge fascinates us. One of the many features is this: in many IMP matches, despite one team having a decent lead - it ain't over 'till it's over!
Fernando Lema has just such a match. The match was just held at the Canadian Bridge Championships. This was the finals of the CSTC - the category to see what Senior team would represent Canada in international competition this fall in India.
With only two hands to go, one team led the other by 21 IMPS. A big lead with just two deals! Yet .... well; Fernando can give you the details!
Each of us plays bridge for a variety of reasons. One of those reasons, however, shines above them all: the beauty of the game.
Last Friday night, an intriguing hand was played at the Minneapolis Grand Slam Board-A-Match game. Mike Cassel (on the team that won the event) looked deep into this board, and found a marvelous analysis.
Take it away, Mike! Enjoy, everyone!
As we anticipate the start of 2015's Winter Carnival Sectional in St. Paul, we can pause for a moment to admire bridge artistry.
The CSB Bridge News site has a marvelous hand from many years ago. As the author states, even with all 52 cards on view, judging how to take 12 tricks to succeed in slam is not at all obvious. Yet, the great Al Roth managed to do it only viewing 26 cards.
Very few of us will ever reach the brilliance of an Al Roth. Yet, here's to all of us enjoying the tourney and achieving our own victories this weekend!
If you're a bridge player, then you love hearing about bridge hands. Sometimes, the funny ones are the best.
CSBNews, Confederacion Sudamericana de Bridge, has a wide array of stories - and hands - to instruct and amuse. Here is just one of many!
A "ghoulie" at the bridge table is a hand with wild distribution. The name originated from deals where shuffling was minimal and abnormal hands were the result.
Steve Gaynor has a marvelous ghoulie tale for us. It originated in a game at his friend Norrie Thomas' home.
Posted below; enjoy!
We hope that everyone in our Minnesota bridge community is having an enjoyable and safe 4th of July holiday.
To celebrate this dramatic day, Steve Gaynor shares with us a dramatic "fireworks" hand.
Thanks Steve! Enjoy, everyone!
If you read bridge columns in major publications, then you may find an intriguing play or defense from a Spingold match or international competition.
Yet, to find fascinating bids or plays, an elite event need not be the source. Bridge lovers can find beauty and logic anywhere - be it a Bermuda Bowl or the local dupe.
Our thanks to the Maple Grove Thursday duplicate for the source of this hand. And, to Jean Boettcher who was playing and reported the hand to husband Steve Gaynor for his write up below!
Although it's been well over half a century since Edwin Kantar grew up on the north side of Minneapolis, the Twin Cities still remains where Eddie's bridge career began. And - what a career it has been! Not only did Eddie become one of America's best known players - he also is a prolific writer. Few can match the output that Eddie has delivered over the years.
Today, we can enjoy another hand - written up as only Eddie Kantar can!
Fascinating bridge hands can be found anywhere: a home game, the local duplicate, a regional, the Bermuda Bowl - or online with a robot.
Rich Newell, of West Des Moines, discovered this fascinating hand at the last location. And; he met with success!
Read all about how Rich beat the bots at Bridgebase online.
Slam hands are almost always exciting. While some are laydown, others depend upon features such as:
And so forth and so on.
Judge right and a pile of IMPS can be yours. A misstep? You may lose the match on one hand!
Richard Lawson has an excellent slam hand write up from this past week's Minneapolis Grand Slam Club Knockout Event.
Distributional hands often provide excitement at the bridge table - and a wild ride for the participants.
For one particularly thrilling hand - expert Steve Gaynor has the details!
Sometimes, you need one more chance for victory.
Gene Brandl shares a hand from the NABC in Atlanta for just such a tale!
What is one of the most exciting things that can happen to a bridge player? To make it into the New York Times bridge column, of course!
A few days ago, our own Sharon Christenson accomplished that feat!
Patty Tucker of Atlanta conducted a big "Learn Bridge in A Day" seminar at our most recent NABC in her home town. As always, the class was a resounding success.
But if you weren't able to make it in Georgia - not to worry! You have the opportunity to enjoy Learn Bridge in a Day close to home. On September 7th, the Bridge Center of St. Paul is offering a five hour Learn Bridge in a Day class.
All the details are in the flyer below. Attend for yourself - or introduce your friends to our great game!