Sunny side up
Yesterday was a great day. I found out that an ailing loved one is recovering (prayers answered) and Apple gave me a free replacement Itouch after I had an accident with mine (a customer service model to follow). My family room renovation is nearing completion and we can move all the furniture back in today. The sun is shining and it is warm. The convertible comes out of winter storage this weekend. And today I get to bowl with my two grandchildren. Life seems wonderful.
Anyway I remembered that the Reno tournament was underway and I decided to check out the bulletins
Day 1 I found that local players Jordan Cohen abd Barry Senensky led the NAOP Flight A – Qualifiers. The eventual winners of the event were Douglas Doub and Franklin Merblum from Connecticut.
And Jeff and Isabelle Smith qualified in NABC Imp Pairs. They are going to be tough competitors… warning to those who think they are just a nice young couple.
Reading the Bulletin I noticed that there was a seminar on teaching bridge to young people. I would like to hear Julie Greenberg’s idea. Maybe they could post some of the content on the ACBL site (Maybe they have!).
Here is an interesting deal written up by Liam Johnstone of London England. It starts with the Silver Certainty Principle although he doesn’t know the source. In one of his several humorous stories David talks about the idea that whatever level you bid, the opponents will bid one more. So if you want them in 3 spades you should bid 3 hearts etc.
Recognizing this principle Liam nevertheless bid 4 spades after the opponents bid 1H pass 4H with
♠10 9 5 3 2 ♥– ♦A K J 10 5 3 ♣K 4
But when the opponents bid 5 hearts they passed it out there and –450 was a near bottom. I don’t remember if David’s principle says to keep bidding one more or not. There’s more fun in the article if you have a chance to read it.
The Vanderbilt is coming up soon and I have signed up to comment a session or two. I hope all of you in Reno are having a great time and I will be watching the score sheet for your names. Good luck.
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On a related note, there is also a concept some of us call “Texas Transfers” in jest. It is the corrollary to the “Silver Certainty Principle,” namely NOT to bid to the level that your DON’T want the opponents to reach. A simple example is a 2H opening by partner and some noise somewhere suggesting that the opponents have a spade fit. You want to seriously consider 3H as a much better bid than 4H in many situations, because 3H allows a -170 stop but 4H “Texas Transfers” them to 4S. If you cannot beat 4S, bid 3H or 5H, but never the “Texas Transfer” of 4H.