By Valerie Rhead<\/p>\n
MISTAKES AND DUMB STUPID MISTAKES <\/strong><\/p>\n Are you ever afflicted by dumb stupid mistakes at the bridge table? This sounds like the start of a TV commercial for which a miracle solution then is offered. One miracle solution: Don\u2019t listen to the conversations at the next table!<\/p>\n In the game of bridge, you can learn from your mistakes. It\u2019s normal when you are first learning a new convention, such as Transfers, to forget and bid two Hearts as a Heart suit rather than as a transfer to Spades. But hopefully these kinds of mistakes get fewer as time goes by. I remember my partner missing a transfer on a hand that would have been a laydown for a slam. As a result, we went down for a number, a BIG number! This kind of mistake always seemed to happen when we were playing against the director of our club. I remember the director smiling at my partner saying, \u201dYou will never miss a transfer again, will you?\u201d And my partner did not, at least not for a long time!<\/p>\n But then there are the other kinds of mistakes in bridge where you are distracted and do something incredibly stupid\u2014something that you know inside and out not to do. I had recently explained to a few friends that the only way for the opening bidder to force his partner to bid again was to use a strong jump shift to a new suit. For example, if he opened with one diamond, to which his partner responded one heart, and opener wanted to make sure his partner wouldn\u2019t pass before a game was reached, he would jump to another suit such as two Spades. Well, shortly after \u201cthis lesson\u201d my partner bid a perfect strong jump shift\u2014absolutely perfect. However, I was listening to the conversation at the next table and blew it. I was distracted and didn\u2019t recognize the strong jump shift. I passed instead of bidding to a lay-down five diamond game.<\/p>\n How do you avoid having this happening to you? Don\u2019t listen to the conversations at the next table and concentrate on your damn bridge game!<\/p>\n If you wish to promote an activity in your bridge group, send the information to vrhead@sympatico.ca<\/a> and I will include it in this column.<\/p>\n SYRIAN REFUGEE FAMILY FUNDRAISER HUNTSVILLE DUPLICATE BRIDGE CLUB<\/strong><\/p>\n Games for the Huntsville Club are now Tuesday afternoon 1PM for the winter Jan\u2011Feb\u2011Mar, Trinity United Church 33 Main Street. Please arrive 15 minutes before game time. Call Betty 705-789-2560 bennettb@vianet.ca<\/a> or Susan at 705-789-7156 jasu.marshall@gmail.com<\/a> for information and partnerships. For the winter, the game now is held downstairs in the warm basement. To avoid the long stairs, enter from the door on Main Street.<\/p>\n The following results are for Tuesday, Feb 23 with 5 tables playing a Howell movement. 1. Mary Simonett and Kel Andresen; 2. Bev Parlett and Barb Forth; 3. Jim Smith and Ralph Mitchell; 4. Betty Fagin and Rod Dixon; 5. Heather Hockin and David Hockin<\/p>\n MUSKOKA DUPLICATE BRIDGE CLUB (Bracebridge)<\/strong><\/p>\n Games at the Bracebridge Club are at the Knox Presbyterian Church, 120 Taylor Road 7pm Monday evenings. Please arrive 15 minutes before game time.<\/p>\n The following results are for Monday, Feb 22 with 7 tables playing a Mitchell movement. North-South 1. Mary Luke and Donna McIntosh; 2. Bev Parlett and Vern Foel; 3. Pamela Jardine and Ralph Mitchell; 4. Val Rhead and Peter Rhead; East-West 1. Ruth Thompson and Don Evans; 2. Albert Eatock and David Bryce; 3. Kel Andresen and Jim Smith; 4. Ralph Hair and Gerry Flaherty<\/p>\n Don’t miss out on Doppler! Sign up for our twice-weekly email digest and get some of our top stories delivered right to your inbox.<\/strong><\/p>\n *<\/span> indicates required<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>LUNCHEON AND BRIDGE PARTY, ALL WELCOME
\n<\/strong>Saint Patrick\u2019s Day
\n<\/strong>12 NOON FOR LUNCH Thursday, Mar 17, 2016 $20 per person
\nSaint Joseph\u2019s Catholic Church, Bracebridge, 118 McMurray Street
\nPlease arrange your foursome and bring cards for your table.
\nTickets: Call with four names Sylvia Miles 645-8556 sylviamiles@sympatico.ca<\/a><\/p>\n
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