BALA CYNWYD, PA - The Philadelphia Contract Bridge Association (PCBA) showed off its new site for all area Sectional tournaments this past weekend with a well-attended Sectional at the Bala Golf Club in Bala Cynwyd, PA off City Line Avenue, and despite a couple of glitches, people generally liked … [Read more...]
On the road: Doing the Charleston
January 3, 2013 By Leave a Comment
CHARLESTON, SC - My partner Christine Matus and I “did the Charleston” in the week between Christmas and New Year’s, combining lots of bridge at the Mid-Atlantic Winter Regional duplicate tournament (an ACBL-sanctioned event) in the cavernous Charleston Convention Center with some interesting … [Read more...]
Lunchtime riches: Bidding the right small slam
December 13, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Phil "Mr. MasterPoint" Ahr got such good cards at the Thursday luncheon meeting of our office Bridge Club that he had to pause several times to count his riches, like rich Uncle McDuck counting his money of the old comic books. Joan "Not Miss Timid Anymore" Rightnour even offered to run to her desk … [Read more...]
You win some, you lose some
December 11, 2012 By Leave a Comment
LANCASTER, PA - Well, although I’m probably less than five points away from attaining my Life Master status now, I didn’t quite get there yet. At Sunday’s four-person Swiss format team competition that ended the Lancaster, PA, Winter Regional duplicate bridge tournament (an ACBL-sanctioned event), … [Read more...]
When you have nothing: When to bid, when to pass
December 10, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Having nothing doesn't always mean that you're off the hook and you can just sit back during the auction and pass all the time. There are occasions when you have to bid -- and then there are occasions when you'd better pass, even when your partner wants you to bid. It is admittedly different to … [Read more...]
Never let your opponents play 2 Hearts!
December 4, 2012 By Leave a Comment
PIKESVILLE, MD - They raised money to build a new bridge club in the Harrisburg, PA, suburb of Camp Hill with a variety of fundraising techniques, including the sale of commemorative bricks at the entrance. When my partner Christine Matus and I played in the inaugural Sectional tournament there … [Read more...]
10-card trump suit: Stolen slam that should not have made
December 3, 2012 By Leave a Comment
One of my regular partners, Christine Matus, and I wound up on different teams for last week’s mid-week Swiss Sectional duplicate bridge tournament at the Bridge Studio of Delaware Thursday night and since neither one of us is very competitive (haha!) we were happy that each one of us walked away … [Read more...]
With 25 points, you gotta get to game
November 30, 2012 By Leave a Comment
The team of John "Unlucky Louie" Walston and Jim "Mr,. Defense" Giuliano left no doubt who's boss, beating Jason "Thumbs" Cohen and Joan "Generally Not Miss Timid Anymore" Rightnour by a total score of 1,600 to 370 at the Friday luncheon meeting of our office bridge club. "Louie" and Jim took the … [Read more...]
When overtaking your partner’s king with the ace is smart
November 29, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Among bridge players it is a well-known fact that trumping your partner's Ace is legitimate cause for justifiable homicide -- you can shoot any partner who does that and if the judge knows anything about bridge, he'll let you off. But what about overtaking your partner's King with your Ace? In … [Read more...]
Atlanta turkey: No master points, but a gutsy ‘steal’
November 26, 2012 By Leave a Comment
ATLANTA - Over the Thanksgiving Day weekend while visiting my grandchildren, I dropped in on the tough Atlanta Duplicate Bridge Center for the second time in my lifetime and once again came away without any points, although I got some points for niceness. “You are very pleasant to play with,” … [Read more...]