Friday, July 24, 2009

Off topic


This is too good to leave out. Here is my darling daughter, Jennifer. This is where we put her when she needs a cooling off period.


Thursday, July 23, 2009

A mentor and live bridge

Since becoming hooked on this game and deciding to take it more seriously I have been very lucky and had some great help from BBO’ers. Many people have been influential but especially Wayne who first taught me the basics of the game and rid me of the ghastly ideas I had picked up while playing "yahoo" bridge online. He still helps me, often daily, answering my endless questions.

Now I am playing more club bridge and I am finding playing online is nothing like playing live.

The club advertised a mentor program so I responded and was hooked up with whom I would like to think, is the best mentor they had! I think this is an opportunity to both rekindle my passion and take my game to another level. I was tired of bad online bridge and feeling stuck.

Now, I have to fulfill my part and work at the game. My play has been neglected in the past while I've collected conventions and debated on bbo forums. (I've been told this over and over and not done anything about it) So, I need to dust off the BridgeMaster deals and get to work, beating up on online bunnies sounds like fun but its either get serious now or get out.

I am making copious notes with my mentor using GoogleDocs. (great tool) With his permission, I may blog these in the future.

Now, back to work :-)

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Western Cue and a major raise in 2/1

Everyone plays this dont they? One of the more simple conventions, or is it.


1D (1H) 1S (P)
2C (P) 2H asking partner to bid 3nt with a heart stopper.



Now look at this auction:


1D (1H) 1S (2C)
2D (3C) 3H showing a heart stopper and asking partner to bid 3nt with clubs stopped. When opps have bid 2 suits bidding their suit shows a stopper.



Playing 2/1 1M:2M is a constructive raise 7(8) - 10 3 or 4 card support.


That is one treatment and could be the most popular but like everything else in this game, it is not set in stone and these things must be discussed with your partner! Others play 1M:2M semi constructive 5-9 3 or 4 card support.


Another little nuance of this wonderful game.

Im learning some new conventions, 2C:2H rather than solely 2C:2D, adding to my 1nt responses and some other more sexy conventions, more on that later.
I know I should be focusing on my play rather than my CC, see my last few posts about bidding.
Seems like some bridge players just cant resist adding to their CC.