By Val Rhead
Bridge is a fascinating game that you never stop learning. But Bridge is a game of mistakes, and the partnership that makes the highest number of mistakes is the loser! So how do you make fewer mistakes? You read Bridge columns and Bridge books, you discuss hands with your partner and with other players, you take Bridge Lessons and you buy a computerized Bridge program.
A good Bridge program that you could use to practise Bridge on your computer is “Bridge Baron.” It allows you to practice bidding and to play hands. One of the nice things about the program is if you get halfway through the hand and it isn’t working out, you can back up and start playing a different way from the beginning. If only we could do that in a real game. You can order the “Bridge Baron” program, and books about Bridge, from Vince Oddy. He is our main Canadian supplier of Bridge supplies and can be reached at www.vinceoddy.com or [email protected] or by phone at (905) 727-2300.
You also can take lessons on-line at the American Contract Bridge League, our parent organization. Go to ACBL.org and click on “LEARN”. There is a series of lessons for beginner, for intermediate and for advanced players. There also is a series that deals primarily with defense.
My husband and I find it particularly good for our Bridge game to invite another couple over to play. We don’t keep score as the score is usually meaningless if you’re dealing out random hands. The player who gets the best score is the one who is dealt the best cards. This is true unless you really goof up, and that can happen.
We play the cards “duplicate” style. That is, we lay the cards for each completed trick in front of us and not in the center of the table. If we have won the trick we point the overturned card towards our side. If we have lost the trick it points towards the opponents. That way the hand can be reconstructed for discussion at the end of play.
Talking is allowed during our play. We can describe to our partner and to the opponents the convention we are practicing. “Remember, partner we’re playing ”Weak Two Bids.” When the hand is finished, if there are no questions about the hand we shuffle and deal the next hand. If there are questions we can lay the hand face up in front of us and then talk about it. “Was my bidding correct partner?” “Would No Trump have been better than Hearts?” “Did you see when I signalled for a Club lead?” And so on. Occasionally, we’ll play a hand over again, in another contract, to see which strategy was better.
Hopefully, the next time we’re in a “real” Bridge game, we’ll make fewer errors and make better scores. More about Bridge Lessons next week!
If you wish to promote an activity in your bridge group or ask a bridge question, send the information to [email protected] and I will try to include it in this column.
WINTER BRIDGE AND GAMES PARTY
CFUW BURSARY FUNDRAISER, ALL WELCOME
Lunch at 12 NOON Friday, Feb 16, 2018 $25 per person
Gravenhurst Senior’s Centre 480 First Street North
This fundraiser assists young women in Muskoka to attend Post Secondary Education.
Register your foursome and bring supplies needed for your table. To register, please provide four names to Mary 705-646-8881 [email protected]
HUNTSVILLE DUPLICATE BRIDGE CLUB
Games at the Huntsville Club are Tuesday 1pm start for the Winter Season, Trinity United Church 33 Main Street in the Hearth Room. Please arrive 15 minutes before game time. For partners and information call Liz Graham (705) 789-7187
The following winners are for Tuesday, Feb 6 with 10 pairs playing a Mitchell movement. North-South 1. Heather Hockin and Chris Karn; 2. Joanne Garvey and Betty Rintoul; East-West 1. Vern Foell and Rod Dixon; 2. Mary Simonett and Kel Andresen
MUSKOKA DUPLICATE BRIDGE CLUB (Bracebridge)
Games for the Bracebridge Club are Mondays 7pm, Knox Presbyterian Church, 120 Taylor Road. Please arrive 15 minutes before game time. For information or partnerships, call Brian at 705-645-5340 [email protected]
The following winners are from Monday, Feb 5 with 15 pairs playing a Howell movement. 1. Mary Luke and Donna McIntosh; 2. Lyn Walisser and David Bryce; 3. Barb Forth and Vern Foell; 4. Betty Fagin and Brian Brocklehurst; 5. Kel Andresen and Jim Smith; 6. Gail Lederer and Don Evans; 7. Val Rhead and Joanne Garvey; 8. Gerry Flaherty and Ralph Hair
Looking for more bridge tips? You’ll find them here.
Don’t miss out on Doppler! Sign up for our free newsletter here.
0 Comments