You've never seen a convention abused so much until you've seen my lebensohl bids. I'm so happy to remember that we play leb, I bid 2N at any opportunity.
Yesterday playing at the club I had a dreadful, weak balanced hand , just 4 clubs and bid 2N, passing 3C. Peter didn't flinch at all, he must have nerves of steel to play with me.
I already know I dont think enough before I bid or play and with new conventions I expect a few disasters before I remember how I should be using it. I seem to learn best from bitter experiences, I hope I dont make that mistake next time.
Lebensohl is the most advanced convention I have played. At first glance it seems straightforward but when I mapped out all of the auctions it is a exact and complex system full of nuances. No doubt I will have many more disasters along the way.
Another disturbing habit I need to break is my tendency to ruff with the wrong suit!
When I am in game/slam and have a equally good or better second suit I am ruffing with second suit. Wake up!! Subconsciously thinking the second suit would have been better, getting one step ahead or just careless, I dont know. One thing I might try is sorting my hand to place trump to the left or right. Currently I just sort black/red as the cards appear. Same story, I need to focus on the current trick and take more time & care.
Peter said nothing until after the set, and even then just laughed. Partners take note; I know I've messed up and I'm sick about it. The best thing you can do is let it go and not contribute to my discomfort. We can talk later about how I can avoid the same mistake & about the other mistakes I didn't even know I had made.
I'm having more fun playing the hands - with no better play available I underled Kx to dummy AJxxx hoping declarer would go up with the ace, he did. :-)
Despite a few hiccups it was another nice game. Playing is becoming less agonising and much more enjoyable as I get more confident.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Monday, October 12, 2009
October update
I have been playing more club bridge with Peter and playing much less online. I am beginning to prefer studying or working on my play than playing online which must be better for my game. I have a few great partners on BBO and I’m rarely playing pickup games now.
October has been busy kicking off with a day of play/lesson at the club hosted by Mike Lawrence. I enjoyed it, came away with a few tips and 2 more of his CD’s – Counting#1 and Private Bridge Lessons#1. I heard of a 2-day workshop Mike held over the weekend that sounded intense but excellent. I wish I had been able to attend but it was by invitation only, "nobodies" didn’t get an invite. Oh well.
One interesting point Mike Lawrence made was to play (4S) X as takeout, (4S) 4N as 2 suited. I have been playing takeout through 4H, 4S X as penalty. When was the last time anyone made a penalty double of a preemptive 4S?
My brother Ian, Fuxia and Angus flew in from New Zeand for a great 3 week visit. Ian and Fuxia played one Friday night at the VBC and came in a respectable 2nd, another night I managed a teams game with them . Ian and Fuxia played together while I had a nice game with a pickup partner. My game is improving. At IMPS I need to be more competitive, I’ve been learning to be less aggressive in MP’s and haven’t yet sorted it all out so I can adjust my game to the scoring method. Yet another part of the game I need to work on.
Two weeks until the sectional, I have one game arranged with Peter and hoping for more, if not I will find a partner from the partnership desk. Better to play in C (0-50) than not at all - I think! Honestly, I'd much rather play in A or open and come last having played some good bridge than play in 0-xxx any day.
I have been doing a lot of work on our CC. I am gradually filling it up and working through all the sequences, signaling, leads etc and Peter is doing a fabulous job of explaining the reasoning behind it all and keeping me on track. It is developing into a very useful document for me, one day I hope to share it.
I'm enjoying a lot of good bridge lately but Im also looking forward to the first snow fall, we could be making a trip to Sun Peaks next month for the first skiing of the season.
Back to counting..
October has been busy kicking off with a day of play/lesson at the club hosted by Mike Lawrence. I enjoyed it, came away with a few tips and 2 more of his CD’s – Counting#1 and Private Bridge Lessons#1. I heard of a 2-day workshop Mike held over the weekend that sounded intense but excellent. I wish I had been able to attend but it was by invitation only, "nobodies" didn’t get an invite. Oh well.
One interesting point Mike Lawrence made was to play (4S) X as takeout, (4S) 4N as 2 suited. I have been playing takeout through 4H, 4S X as penalty. When was the last time anyone made a penalty double of a preemptive 4S?
My brother Ian, Fuxia and Angus flew in from New Zeand for a great 3 week visit. Ian and Fuxia played one Friday night at the VBC and came in a respectable 2nd, another night I managed a teams game with them . Ian and Fuxia played together while I had a nice game with a pickup partner. My game is improving. At IMPS I need to be more competitive, I’ve been learning to be less aggressive in MP’s and haven’t yet sorted it all out so I can adjust my game to the scoring method. Yet another part of the game I need to work on.
Two weeks until the sectional, I have one game arranged with Peter and hoping for more, if not I will find a partner from the partnership desk. Better to play in C (0-50) than not at all - I think! Honestly, I'd much rather play in A or open and come last having played some good bridge than play in 0-xxx any day.
I have been doing a lot of work on our CC. I am gradually filling it up and working through all the sequences, signaling, leads etc and Peter is doing a fabulous job of explaining the reasoning behind it all and keeping me on track. It is developing into a very useful document for me, one day I hope to share it.
I'm enjoying a lot of good bridge lately but Im also looking forward to the first snow fall, we could be making a trip to Sun Peaks next month for the first skiing of the season.
Back to counting..
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